Secure electronic content management system

ABSTRACT

A method of managing content data and associated metadata. According to the method, the content data and the associated metadata are generated. The content data is transferred to a content host, and the metadata and usage condition data for the associated content are transferred to an electronic store. The metadata and/or the usage condition data are altered in order to form promotional data, and the promotional data is transferred from the electronic store to a customer&#39;s system. In one preferred method, the content data is encrypted with a first encrypting key before being transferred to the content host. The first encrypting key is encrypted with a second encrypting key, and the encrypted first encrypting key is transferred along with the metadata and usage condition data to the electronic store. Additionally, the encrypted first encrypting key is transferred along with the promotional data to the customer&#39;s system.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/133,519, filed Aug.13, 1998. The entire disclosure of prior application Ser. No. 09/133,519is herein incorporated by reference.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims subject matter that istechnically related to the following applications that are commonlyassigned herewith to International Business Machines (IBM).

TITLE ATTORNEY APPLICATION OF THE DOC. NO. SERIAL NO. INVENTIONINVENTOR(S) Secure Kenneth L. Milsted Electronic George Gregory GruseContent Marco M. Hurtado Management Edgar Downs Cesar Medina SE9-98-007Multimedia George Gregory Gruse Player John J. Dorak, Jr. ToolkitKenneth L. Milsted SE9-98-008 Multimedia Kenneth L. Milsted Content QingGong Creation Edgar Downs System SE9-98-009 System for George GregoryGruse Tracking John J. Dorak, Jr. End-User Kenneth L. Milsted ElectronicContent SE9-98-010 Key Jeffrey B. Lotspiech Management Marco M. HurtadoSystem for George Gregory Gruse End-User Kenneth L. Milsted DigitalPlayer SE9-98-011 Multi-media Marco M. Hurtado player for an GeorgeGregory Gruse Electronic Edgar Downs Content Kenneth L. Milsted DeliverySystem SE9-98-013 09/203,306 A method to Kenneth L. Milsted identify CDCraig Kindell content Qing Gong SE9-98-014 Toolkit for Richard Spagnadelivering Kenneth L. Milsted electronic David P. Lybrand content froman Edgar Downs Online store. SE9-98-015 A method and Kenneth L. Milstedapparatus to Kha Kinh Nguyen automatically Qing Gong create encode audioSE9-98-016 09/201,475 A method and Kenneth L. Milsted apparatus to QingGong indicate an encoding rate for audio

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention disclosed broadly relates to the field of electroniccommerce and more particularly to a system and related tools for thesecure delivery and rights management of digital assets, such as printmedia, films, games, and music over global communications networks suchas the Internet and the World Wide Web.

2. Description of the Related Art

The use of global distribution systems such as the Internet fordistribution of digital assets such as music, film, computer programs,pictures, games and other content continues to grow. At the same timeowners and publishers of valuable digital content have been slow toembrace the use of the Internet for distribution of digital assets forseveral reasons. One reason is that owners are afraid of unauthorizedcopying or pirating of digital content. The electronic delivery ofdigital content removes several barriers to pirating. One barrier thatis removed with electronic distribution is the requirement of thetangible recordable medium itself (e.g., diskettes or CD ROMs). It costsmoney to copy digital content on to tangible media, albeit, in manycases less than a dollar for a blank tape or recordable CD. However, inthe case of electronic distribution, the tangible medium is no longerneeded. The cost of the tangible medium is not a factor because contentis distributed electronically. A second barrier, is the format of thecontent itself i.e. is the content stored in an analog format versus adigital format. Content stored in an analog format, for example, aprinted picture, when reproduced by photocopying, the copy is of lesserquality than the original. Each subsequent copy of a copy, sometimescalled a generation, is of less quality than the original. Thisdegradation in quality is not present when a picture is storeddigitally. Each copy, and every generation of copies can be as clear andcrisp as the original. The aggregate effect of perfect digital copiescombined with the very low cost to distribute content electronically andto distribute content widely over the Internet makes it relatively easypirate and distribute unauthorized copies. With a couple of keystrokes,a pirate can send hundred or even of thousands of perfect copies ofdigital content over the Internet. Therefore a need exists to ensure theprotection and security of digital assets distributed electronically.

Providers of digital content desire to establish a secure, globaldistribution system for digital content that protects the rights ofcontent owners. The problems with establishing a digital contentdistribution system includes developing systems for digital contentelectronic distribution, rights management, and asset protection.Digital content that is distributed electronically includes content suchas print media, films, games, programs, television, multimedia, andmusic.

The deployment of an electronic distribution system provides the DigitalContent Providers the ability to achieve fast settlement of paymentthrough immediate sales reporting and electronic reconciliation as wellas gain secondary sources of revenue through redistribution of content.Since the electronic digital content distribution system is not affectedby physical inventory outages or returns, the Digital Content Providersand retailers may realize reduced costs and improved margins. DigitalContent Providers could facilitate new, or augment existing,distribution channels for better timed-release of inventory. Thetransactional data from the electronic distribution system could be usedto obtain information regarding consumer buying patterns as well as toprovide immediate feedback on electronic marketing programs andpromotions. In order to meet these goals, a need exists for DigitalContent Providers to use an electronic distribution model to makedigital content available to a wide range of users and businesses whileensuring protection and metering of digital assets.

Other commercially available electronic distribution systems for digitalcontent, such as real audio, A2B from AT&T, Liquid Audio Pro Corp. fromLiquid Audio Pro, City Music Network from Audio Soft and others offertransmission of digital data over secured and unsecured electronicnetworks. The use of secured electronic networks greatly reduces therequirement of Digital Content Providers of distributing digital to awide audience. The use of unsecured networks such as the Internet andWeb allows the digital content to arrive to an end-user securely such asthrough the use of encryption. However, once the encrypted digitalcontent is de-encrypted on the end-user's machine, the digital contentis readily available to the end-user for unauthorized re-distribution.Therefore a need exists for a secure digital content electronicdistribution system that provides protection of digital assets andensures that the Content Provider(s)' rights are protected even afterthe digital content is delivered to consumers and businesses. A needthus exists for rights management to allow for secure delivery,licensing authorization, and control of the usage of digital assets.

Another reason owners of digital content have been slow to embraceelectronic distribution is their desire to maintain and foster existingchannels of distribution. Most content owners sell through retailers. Inthe music market these U.S. retailers include Tower Records, Peaches,Blockbuster, Circuit City and others. Many of these retailers have Websites that allow Internet users to makes selections over the Internetand have selections mailed to the end-user. Example music Web sitesinclude @tower, Music Boulevard and Columbia House. The use ofelectronic distribution can remove the ability of the retail stores fromdifferentiating themselves from each other and differentiate themselvesfrom the content owners, especially on the Web. Therefore a need existsto provide retailers of electronic content such as pictures, games,music, programs and videos a way to differentiate themselves from eachother and the content owners when selling music through electronicdistribution.

Further information on the background of protecting digital content canbe found from the following three sources. “Music on the Internet andthe Intellectual Property Protection Problem” by Jack Lacy, JamesSnyder, David Maher, of AT&T Labs, Florham, Park, N.J. available onlineURL http://www.a2bmusic.com/about/papers/musicipp.htm. Cryptographicallyprotected container, called DigiBox, in the article “Securing theContent, Not the Wire for Information Commerce” by Olin Sibert, DavidBernstein and David Van Wie, InterTrust Technologies Corp. Sunnyvale,Calif. available online URLhttp://www.intertrust.com/architecture/stc.html. And “CryptolopeContainer Technology”, an IBM White Paper, available online URLhttp:///cyptolope.ibm.com/white.htm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to remove the above-mentioneddrawbacks and to provide a secure electronic content management system.One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of managingcontent data and associated metadata. According to the method, thecontent data and the associated metadata are generated. The content datais transferred to a content host, and the metadata and usage conditiondata for the associated content are transferred to an electronic store.The metadata and/or the usage condition data are altered in order toform promotional data, and the promotional data is transferred from theelectronic store to a customer's system. In one preferred method, thecontent data is encrypted with a first encrypting key before beingtransferred to the content host. The first encrypting key is encryptedwith a second encrypting key, and the encrypted first encrypting key istransferred along with the metadata and usage condition data to theelectronic store. Additionally, the encrypted first encrypting key istransferred along with the promotional data to the customer's system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an over view of a Secure DigitalContent Electronic Distribution System according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example Secure Container (SC)and the associated graphical representations according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of the encryptionprocess for a Secure Container (SC) according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of the de-encryptionprocess for a Secure Container (SC) according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of the layers for theRights Management Architecture of the Secure Digital ContentDistribution System of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of the ContentDistribution and Licensing Control as it applies to the License ControlLayer of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an example user interface for the Work FlowManager Tool of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the major tools, components and processesof the Work Flow Manager corresponding to the user interface in FIG. 7according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the major tools, components andprocesses of an Electronic Digital Content Store of FIG. 1 according tothe present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the major components andprocesses of an End-User Device(s) of FIG. 1 according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a method to calculate an encoding ratefactor for the Content Preprocessing and Compression tool of FIG. 8according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a method to automatically retrieveadditional information for the Automatic Metadata Acquisition Tool ofFIG. 8 according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of a method to automatically set thePreprocessing and Compression parameters of the Preprocessing andCompression Tool of FIG. 8 according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an example of user interface screens of the PlayerApplication downloading content to a local library as described in FIG.15 according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating the major components andprocesses of a Player Application running on End-User Device of FIG. 9according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an example user interface screens of the Player Applicationof FIG. 15 according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

A Table of Contents is provided for this present invention to assist thereader in quickly locating different sections in this embodiment.

Table of Contents

I. SECURE DIGITAL CONTENT ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

A. System Overview

1. Rights Management

2. Metering

3. Open Architecture

B. System Functional Elements

1. Content Provider(s)

2. Electronic Digital Content Store(s)

3. Intermediate Market Partners

4. Clearinghouse(s)

5. End-User Device(s)

6. Transmission Infrastructures

C. System Uses

II. CRYPTOGRAPHY CONCEPTS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO THE SECURE DIGITALCONTENT ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

A. Symmetric Algorithms

B. Public Key Algorithms

C. Digital Signature

D. Digital Certificates

E. Guide to the SC(s) Graphical Representation

F. Example of a Secure Container Encryption

III. SECURE DIGITAL CONTENT ELECTRTONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FLOW

IV. RIGHTS MANAGEMENT ARCHITECTURE MODEL

A. Architecture Layer Functions

B. Function Partitioning and Flows

1. Content Formatting Layer

2. Content Usage Control Layer

3. Content Identification Layer

4. License Control Layer

C. Content Districution and Licensing Control

V. SECURE CONTAINER STRUCTURE

A. General Structure

B. Rights Management Language Syntax and Semantics

C. Overview of Secure Container Flow and Processing

D. Metadata Secure Container 620 Format

E. Offer Secure Container 641 Format

F. Transaction Secure Container 640 Format

G. Order Secure Container 650 Format

H. License Secure Container 660 Format

I. Content Secure Container Format

VI. SECURE CONTAINER PACKING AND UNPACKING

A. Overview

B. Bill of Materials (BOM) Part

C. Key Description Part

VII. CLEARINGHOUSE(S)

A. Overview

B. Rights Management Processing

C. Country Specific Parameters

D. Audit Logs and Tracking

E. Reporting of Results

F. Billing and Payment Verification

G. Retransmissions

VIII. CONTENT PROVIDER

A. Overview

B. Work Flow Manager

1. Products Awaiting Action/Information Process

2. New Content Request Process

3. Automatic Metadata Acquisition Process

4. Manual Metadata Entry Process

5. Usage Conditions Process

6. Supervised Release Process

7. Metadata SC(s) Creation Process

8. Watermarking Process

9. Preprocessing and Compression Process

10. Content Quality Control Process

11. Encryption Process

12. Content SC(s) Creation Process

13. Final Quality Assurance Process

14. Content Dispersement Process

15. Work Flow Rules

C. Metadata Assimilation and Entry Tool

1. Automatic Metadata Acquiaition Tool

2. Manual Metadata Entry Tool

3. Usage Conditions Tool

4. Parts of the Metadata SC(s)

5. Supervised Release Tool

D. Content Processing Tool

1. Watermarking Tool

2. Preprocessing and Compression Tool

3. Content Quality Control Tool

4. Encryption Tool

E. Content SC(s) Creation Tool

F. Final Quality Assurance Tool

G. Content Dispersement Tool

H. Content Promotions Web Site

I. Content Hosting

1. Content Hosting Sites

2. Content Hosting Site(s) 111 provided by the Secure Digital ContentElectronic Distribution System

IX. ELECTRONIC DIGITAL CONTENT STORE(S)

A. Overview—Support for Multiple Electronic Digital Content Store(s)

B. Point-to-Point Electronic Digital Content Distribution Service

1. Integration Requirements

2. Content Acquisition Tool

3. Transaction Processing Module

4. Notification Interface Module

5. Account Reconciliation Tool

C. Broadcast Electronic Digital Content Distribution Service

X. END-USER DEVICE(S)

A. Overview

B. Application Installation

C. Secure Container Processor

D. The Player Application

1. Overview

2. End-User Interface Components

3. Copy/Play Management Components

4. Decruyption 1505, Decompression 1506 and Playback Components

5. Data Management 1502 and Library Access Components

6. Inter-application Communication Components

7. Other Miscellaneous Components

8. The Generic Player

I. SECURE DIGITAL CONTENT ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

A. System Overview

The Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System is a technicalplatform that encompasses the technology, specifications, tools, andsoftware needed for the secure delivery and rights management of DigitalContent and digital content-related content to an end-user, clientdevice. The End-User Device(s) include PCS, set top boxes (IRDs), andInternet appliances. These devices may copy the content to externalmedia or portable, consumer devices as permitted by the contentproprietors. The term Digital Content or simply Content, refers toinformation and data stored in a digital forniat including: pictures,movies, videos, music, programs, multimedia and games.

The technical platform specifies how Digital Content is prepared,securely distributed through point-to-point and broadcastinfrastructures (such as cable, Internet, satellite, and wireless)licensed to End-User Device(s), and protected against unauthorizedcopying or playing. In addition, the architecture of the technicalplatform allows for the integration and migration of varioustechnologies such as watermarking, compression/encoding, encryption, andother security algorithms as they evolve over time.

The base components of the Secure Digital Content ElectronicDistribution System are: (1) rights management for the protection ofownership rights of the content proprietor; (2) transaction metering forimmediate and accurate compensation; and (3) an open and well-documentedarchitecture that enables Content Provider(s) to prepare content andpermit its secure delivery over multiple network infrastructures forplayback on any standard compliant player.

1. Rights Management

Rights management in the Secure Digital Content Electronic DistributionSystem is implemented through a set of functions distributed among theoperating components of the system. Its primary functions include:licensing authorization and control so that content is unlocked only byauthorized intermediate or End-User(s) that have secured a license; andcontrol and enforcement of content usage according to the conditions ofpurchase or license, such as permitted number of copies, number ofplays, and the time interval or term the license may be valid. Asecondary function of rights management is to enable a means to identifythe origin of unauthorized copies of content to combat piracy.

Licensing authorization and control are implemented through the use of aClearinghouse(s) entity and Secure Container (SC) technology. TheClearinghouse(s) provides licensing authorization by enablingintermediate or End-User(s) to unlock content after verification of asuccessful completion of a licensing transaction. Secure Containers areused to distribute encrypted content and information among the systemcomponents. A SC is a cryptographic carrier of information or contentthat uses encryption, digital signatures, and digital certificates toprovide protection against unauthorized interception or modification ofelectronic information and content. It also allows for the verificationof the authenticity and integrity of the Digital Content. The advantageof these rights management functions is that the electronic DigitalContent distribution infrastructure does not have to be secure ortrusted. Therefore transmission over network infrastructures such as theWeb and Internet. This is due to the fact that the Content is encryptedwithin Secure Containers and its storage and distribution are separatefrom the control of its unlocking and use. Only users who havedecryption keys can unlock the encrypted Content, and theClearinghouse(s) releases decryption keys only for authorized andappropriate usage requests. The Clearinghouse(s) will not clear bogusrequests from unknown or unauthorized parties or requests that do notcomply with the content's usage conditions as set by the contentproprietors. In addition, if the SC is tampered with during itstransmission, the software in the Clearinghouse(s) determines that theContent in a SC is corrupted or falsified and repudiate the transaction.

The control of Content usage is enabled through the End-User PlayerApplication 195 running on an End-User Device(s). The application embedsa digital code in every copy of the Content that defines the allowablenumber of secondary copies and play backs. Digital watermarkingtechnology is used to generate the digital code, to keep it hidden fromother End-User Player Application 195, and to make it resistant toalteration attempts. When the Digital Content is accessed in a compliantEnd-User Device(s), the End-User Player Application 195 reads thewatermark to check the use restrictions and updates the watermark asrequired. If the requested use of the content does not comply with theusage conditions, e.g., the number of copies has been exhausted, theEnd-User Device(s) will not perform the request.

Digital watermarking also provides the means to identify the origin ofauthorized or unauthorized copies of Content. An initial watermark inthe Content is embedded by the content proprietor to identify thecontent proprietor, specify copyright information, define geographicdistribution areas, and add other pertinent information. A secondwatermark is embedded in the Content at the End-User Device(s) toidentify the content purchaser (or licensee) and End-User Device(s),specify the purchase or license conditions and date, and add any otherpertinent information.

Since watermarks become an integral part of the Content, they arecarried in the copies independent of whether the copies were authorizedor not. Thus the Digital Content always contains information regardingits source and its permitted use regardless of where the content residesor where it comes from. This information may be used to combat illegaluse of the Content.

2. Metering

As part of its rights management functions, the Clearinghouse(s) keeps arecord of all transactions where a key exchange is cleared through theClearinghouse(s). This record allows for the metering of licensingauthorization and the original conditions of use. The transaction recordcan be reported to responsible parties, such as, content proprietors orContent Provider(s), retailers, and others, on an immediate or periodicbasis to facilitate electronic reconciliation of transaction paymentsand other uses.

3. Open Architecture

The Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System (System) is anopen architecture with published specifications and interfaces tofacilitate broad implementation and acceptance of the System in themarket place while maintaining rights protection for the contentproprietors. The flexibility and openness of the System architecturealso enable the System to evolve over time as various technologies,transmission infrastructures, and devices are delivered to themarketplace.

The architecture is open regarding the nature of the Content and itsformat. Distribution of audio, programs, multimedia, video, or othertypes of Content is supported by the architecture. The Content could bein a native format, such as linear PCM for digital music, or a formatachieved by additional preprocessing or encoding, such as filtering,compression, or pre/de-emphasis, and more. The architecture is open tovarious encryption and watermarking techniques. It allows for theselection of specific techniques to accommodate different Content typesand formats and to allow the introduction or adoption of newtechnologies as they evolve. This flexibility allows Content Provider(s)to pick and evolve the technologies they use for data compression,encryption, and formatting within the Secure Digital Content ElectronicDistribution System.

The architecture is also open to different distribution networks anddistribution models. The architecture supports content distribution overlow-speed Internet connections or high-speed satellite and cablenetworks and can be used with point-to-point or broadcast models. Inaddition, the architecture is designed so that the functions in theEnd-User Device(s) can be implemented on a wide variety of devices,including low cost consumer devices. This flexibility allows ContentProvider(s) and retailers to offer Content to intermediate orEnd-User(s) through a variety of service offerings and enables the usersto purchase or license Content, play it back, and record it on variouscompliant player devices.

B. System Functional Elements

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram illustrating anoverview of a Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100according to the present invention. The Secure Digital ContentElectronic Distribution System 100 encompasses several business elementsthat comprise an end-to-end solution, including: Content Provider(s) 101or the proprietors of the Digital Content, Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103, Intermediate Market Partners (not shown), Clearinghouse(s)105, Content Hosting Site 111, Transmission Infrastructures 107, andEnd-User Device(s) 109. Each of these business elements use variouscomponents of the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System100. A high level description of these business elements and systemcomponents, as they pertain specifically to electronic Content 113distribution, follows.

1. Content Provider(s) 101

Content Provider(s) 101 or content proprietor(s) are owners of originalContent 113 and/or distributors authorized to package independentContent 113 for further distribution. Content Provider(s) 101 mayexploit their rights directly or license Content 113 to the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103, or Intermediate Market Partners (notshown), usually in return for Content usage payments related toelectronic commerce revenues. Examples of Content Provider(s) 101include Sony, Time-Warner, MTV, IBM, Microsoft, Turner, Fox and others.

Content Provider(s) 101 use tools provided as part of the Secure DigitalContent Electronic Distribution System 100 in order to prepare theirContent 113 and related data for distribution. A Work Flow Manager Tool154 schedules Content 113 to be processed and tracks the Content 113 asit flows through the various steps of Content 113 preparation andpackaging to maintain high quality assurance. The term metadata is usedthroughout this document to mean data related to the Content 113 and inthis embodiment does not include the Content 113 itself. As an example,metadata for a song may be a song title or song credits but not thesound recording of the song. The Content 113 would contain the soundrecording. A Metadata Assimilation and Entry Tool 161 is used to extractmetadata from the Content Provider(s)' Database 160 (for a music examplethe Content 113 information such as CD title, artist name, song title,CD artwork, and more) and to package it for electronic distribution. TheMetadata Assimilation and Entry Tool 161 is also used to enter the UsageConditions for the Content 113. The data in Usage Conditions can includecopy restriction rules, the wholesale price, and any business rulesdeemed necessary. A Watermarking Tool is used to hide data in theContent 113 that identifies the content owner, the processing date, andother relevant data. For an embodiment where the Content 113 is audio,an audio preprocessor tool is used to adjust the dynamic range and/orequalize the Content 113 or other audio for optimum compression quality,compress the Content 113 to the desired compression levels, and encryptthe Content 113. These can be adapted to follow technical advances indigital content compression/encoding, encryption, and formattingmethods, allowing the Content Provider(s) 101 to utilize best tools asthey evolve over time in the marketplace.

The encrypted Content 113, digital content-related data or metadata, andencrypted keys are packed in SCs (described below) by the SC Packer Tooland stored in a content hosting site and/or promotional web site forelectronic distribution. The content hosting site can reside at theContent Provider(s) 101 or in multiple locations, including ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 and Intermediate Market Partners (notshown) facilities. Since both the Content 113 and the Keys (describedbelow) are encrypted and packed in SCs, Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 or any other hosting agent can not directly accessdecrypted Content 113 without clearance from the Clearinghouse(s) andnotification to the Content Provider(s) 101.

2. Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103

Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 are the entities who market theContent 113 through a wide variety of services or applications, such asContent 113 theme programming or electronic merchandising of Content113. Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 manage the design,development, business operations, settlements, merchandising, marketing,and sales of their services. Example online Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 are Web sites that provide electronic downloads ofsoftware.

Within their services, Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 implementcertain functions of the Secure Digital Content Electronic DistributionSystem 100. Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 aggregateinformation from the Content Provider(s) 101, pack content and metadatain additional SCs, and deliver those SCs to consumers or businesses aspart of a service or application. Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103 use tools provided by the Secure Digital Content ElectronicDistribution System 100 to assist with: metadata extraction, secondaryusage conditions, SC packaging, and tracking of electronic contenttransactions. The secondary usage conditions data can include retailbusiness offers such as Content 113 purchase price, pay-per-listenprice, copy authorization and target device types, or timed-availabilityrestrictions.

Once an Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 completes a validrequest for electronic Content 113 from an End-User(s), the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 is responsible for authorizing theClearinghouse(s) 105 to release the decryption key for the Content 113to the customer. The Electronic Digital Content Store(s) also authorizesthe download of the SC containing the Content 113. The ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) may elect to host the SCs containing theDigital Content at its local site and/or utilize the hosting anddistribution facilities of another Content hosting site.

The Electronic Digital Content Store(s) can provide customer service forany questions or problems that an End-User(s) may have using the SecureDigital Content Electronic Distribution System 100, or the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 may contract their customer service supportto the Clearinghouse(s) 105.

3. Intermediate Market Partners (not shown)

In an alternate embodiment, the Secure Digital Content ElectronicDistribution System 100 can be used to provide Content 113 securely toother businesses called Intermediate Market Partners. These partners mayinclude digital content-related companies offering a non-electronicservice, such as televisions stations or video clubs, radio stations orrecord clubs, that distribute Content 113. These Partners may alsoinclude other trusted parties who handle material as part of making ormarketing sound recordings, such as record studios, replicators, andproducers. These Intermediate Market Partners requires clearance fromthe Clearinghouse(s) 105 in order to decrypt the Content 113.

4. Clearinghouse(s) 105

The Clearinghouse(s) 105 provides the licensing authorization and recordkeeping for all transactions that relate to the sale and/or permitteduse of the Content 113 encrypted in a SC. When the Clearinghouse(s) 105receives a request for a decryption key for the Content 113 from anintermediate or End-User(s), the Clearinghouse(s) 105 validates theintegrity and authenticity of the information in the request; verifiesthat the request was authorized by an Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) or Content Provider(s) 101; and verifies that the requestedusage complies with the content Usage Conditions as defined by theContent Provider(s) 101. Once these verifications are satisfied, theClearinghouse(s) 105 sends the decryption key for the Content 113 to therequesting End-User(s) packed in a License SC. The key is encrypted in amanner so that only the authorized user can retrieve it. If theEnd-User's request is not verifiable, complete, or authorized, theClearinghouse(s) 105 repudiates the request for the decryption key.

The Clearinghouse(s) 105 keeps a record of all transactions and canreport them to responsible parties, such as Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 and Content Provider(s) 101, on an immediate, periodic, orrestricted basis. This reporting is a means by which Content Provider(s)101 can be informed of the sale of Content 113 and the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 can obtain an audit trail of electronicdelivery to their customers. The Clearinghouse(s) 105 can also notifythe Content Provider(s) 101 and/or Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103 if it detects that information in a SC has been compromised or doesnot comply with the Content's Usage Conditions. The transactionrecording and repository capabilities of the Clearinghouse(s) 105database is structured for data mining and report generation.

In another embodiment, the Clearinghouse(s) 105 can provide customersupport and exception processing for transactions such as refinds,transmission failures, and purchase disputes. The Clearinghouse(s) 105can be operated as an independent entity, providing a trusted custodianfor rights management and metering. It provides billing and settlementas required. Examples of electronic Clearinghouse(s) includeSecure-Bank.com and Secure Electronic Transaction (SET) fromVisa/Mastercard. In one embodiment, the Clearinghouse(s) 105 are Websites accessible to the End-User Device(s) 109. In another embodiment,the Clearinghouse(s) 105 is part of the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103.

5. End-User Device(s) 109

The End-User Device(s) 109 can be any player device that contains anEnd-User Player Application 195 (described later) compliant with theSecure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100specifications. These devices may include PCS, set top boxes (IRDs), andInternet appliances. The End-User Player Application 195 could beimplemented in software and/or consumer electronics hardware. Inaddition to performing play, record, and library management functions,the End-User Player Application 195 performs SC processing to enablerights management in the End-User Device(s) 109. The End-User Device(s)109 manages the download and storage ofthe SCs containing the DigitalContent; requests and manages receipt of the encrypted Digital Contentkeys from the Clearinghouse(s) 105; processes the watermark(s) everytime the Digital Content is copied or played; manages the number ofcopies made (or deletion of the copy) in accordance with the DigitalContent's Usage Conditions; and performs the copy to an external mediaor portable consumer device if permitted. The portable consumer devicecan perform a subset of the End-User Player Application 195 functions inorder to process the content's Usage Conditions embedded in thewatermark. The terms End-User(s) and End-User Player Application 195 areused throughout this to mean through the use or running-on an End-UserDevice(s) 109.

6. Transmission Infrastructures 107

The Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100 isindependent of the transmission network connecting the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 and End-User Device(s) 109. It supportsboth point-to-point such as the Internet and broadcast distributionmodels such as broadcast television.

Even though the same tools and applications are used to acquire,package, and track Content 113 transactions over various TransmissionInfrastructures 107, the presentation and method in which services aredelivered to the customer may vary depending on the infrastructure anddistribution model selected. The quality of the Content 113 beingtransferred may also vary since high bandwidth infrastructures candeliver high-quality digital content at more acceptable response timesthan lower bandwidth infrastructures. A service application designed fora point-to-point distribution model can be adapted to support abroadcast distribution model as well.

C. System Uses

The Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100 enablesthe secure delivery of high-quality, electronic copies of Content 113 toEnd-User Device(s) 109, whether consumer or business, and to regulateand track usage of the Content 113.

The Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100 could bedeployed in a variety of consumer and business-to-business servicesusing both new and existing distribution channels. Each particularservice could use a different financial model that can be enforcedthrough the rights management features of the Secure Digital ContentElectronic Distribution System 100. Models such as wholesale or retailpurchase, pay-per-listen usage, subscription services, copy/no-copyrestrictions, or redistribution could be implemented through the rightsmanagement of the Clearinghouse(s) 105 and the End-User PlayerApplication 195 copy protection features.

The Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100 allowsElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 and Intermediate Market Partnersa great deal of flexibility in creating services that sell Content 113.At the same time it provides Content Provider(s) 101 a level ofassurance that their digital assets are protected and metered so thatthey can receive appropriate compensation for the licensing of Content113.

II. CRYPTOGRAPHY CONCEPTS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO THE SECURE DIGITALCONTENT ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

License Control in the Secure Digital Content Electronic DistributionSystem 100 is based on the use of cryptography. This section introducesbasic cryptography technologies of the present invention. The use ofpublic key encryption, symmetric key encryption, digital signatures,digital watermarks and digital certificates is known.

A. Symmetric Algorithms

In the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100 theContent Provider(s) 101 encrypts the content using symmetric algorithms.They are called symmetric algorithms because the same key is used toencrypt and decrypt data. The data sender and the message recipient mustshare the key. The shared key is referred to here as the symmetric key.The Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100architecture is independent of the specific symmetric algorithm selectedfor a particular implementation.

Common symmetric algorithms are DES, RC2 and RC4. Both DES and RC2 areblock cipher. A block cipher encrypts the data using a block of databits at a time. DES is an official US government encryption standard,has a 64-bit block size, and uses a 56-bit key. Triple-DES is commonlyused to increase the security achieved with simple DES. RSA DataSecurity designed RC2. RC2 uses a variable-key-size cipher and has ablock size of 64 bits. RC4, also designed by RSA Data Security, is avariable-key-size stream cipher. A stream cipher operates on a singledata bit at a time. RSA Data Security claims that eight to sixteenmachine operations are required for RC4 per output byte.

IBM designed a fast algorithm called SEAL. SEAL is a stream algorithmthat uses a variable-length key and that has been optimized for 32-bitprocessors. SEAL requires about five elementary machine instructions perdata byte. A 50 MHZ, 486-based computer runs the SEAL code at 7.2megabytes/second if the 160-bit key used has already been preprocessedinto internal tables.

Microsoft reports results of encryption performance benchmark in itsOverview of CryptoAPI document. These results were obtained by anapplication using Microsoft's CryptoAPI, ruuhing on a 120-MHZ,Pentium-based computer with Windows NT 4.0.

Cipher Key Size Key Setup Time Encryption Speed DES 56 460 1,138,519 RC240 40 286,888 RC4 40 151 2,377,723

B. Public Key Algorithms

In the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100,symmetric keys and other small data pieces are encrypted using publickeys. Public key algorithms use two keys. The two keys aremathematically related so that data encrypted with one key can only bedecrypted with the other key. The owner of the keys keeps one keyprivate (private key) and publicly distributes the second key (publickey).

To secure the transmission of a confidential message using a public keyalgorithm, one must use the recipient's public key to encrypt themessage. Only the recipient, who has the associated private key, candecrypt the message. Public key algorithms are also used to generatedigital signatures. The private key is used for that purpose. Thefollowing section provides information on digital signatures.

The most common used public-key algorithm is the RSA public-key cipher.It has become the de-facto public key standard in the industry. Otheralgorithms that also work well for encryption and digital signatures areElGamal and Rabin. RSA is a variable-key length cipher.

Symmetric key algorithms are much faster than the public key algorithms.In software, DES is generally at least 100 times as fast as RSA. Becauseof this, RSA is not used to encrypt bulk data. RSA Data Security reportsthat on a 90 MHZ Pentium machine, RSA Data Security's toolkit BSAFE 3.0has a throughput for private-key operations (encryption or decryption,using the private key) of 21.6 kilobits/second with a 512-bit modulusand 7.4 kilobits/second with a 1024-bit modulus.

C. Digital Signature

In the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100, theissuer of SC(s) protects the integrity of SC(s) by digitally signing it.In general, to create a digital signature of a message, a message ownerfirst computes the message digest (defined below) and then encrypt themessage digest using the owner's private key. The message is distributedwith its signature. Any recipient of the message can verify the digitalsignature first by decrypting the signature using the public key of themessage owner to recover the message digest. Then, the recipientcomputes the digest of the received message and compare it with therecovered one. If the message has not being altered during distribution,the calculated digest and recovered digest must be equal.

In the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100, sinceSC(s) contain several data parts, a digest is calculated for each partand a summary digest is calculated for the concatenated part digests.The summary digest is encrypted using the private key of the issuer ofthe SC(s). The encrypted summary digest is the issuer's digitalsignature for the SC(s). The part digests and the digital signature areincluded in the body of the SC(s). The recipients of SC(s) can verifythe integrity of the SC(s) and its parts by means of the receiveddigital signature and part digests.

A one-way hash algorithm is used to calculate a message digest. A hashalgorithm takes a variable-length-input message and converts it into afixed length string, the message digest. A one-way hash algorithmoperates only in one direction. That is, it is easy to calculate thedigest for an input message, but it is very difficult (computationallyinfeasible) to generate the input message from its digest. Because ofthe properties of the one-way hash functions, one can think of a messagedigest as a fingerprint of the message.

The more common one-way hash functions are MD5 from RSA Data Securityand SHA designed by the US National Institute of Technology andStandards (NITS).

D. Digital Certificates

A digital certificate is used to authenticate or verify the identity ofa person or entity that has sent a digitally signed message. Acertificate is a digital document issued by a certification authoritythat binds a public key to a person or entity. The certificate includesthe public key, the name of the person or entity, an expiration date,the namne of the certification authority, and other information. Thecertificate also contains the digital signature of the certificationauthority.

When an entity (or person) sends a message signed with its private keyand accompanied with its digital certificate, the recipient of themessage uses the entity's name from the certificate to decide whether ornot to accept the message.

In the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100, everySC(s), except those issued by the End-User Device(s) 109, includes thecertificate of the creator of the SC(s). The End-User Device(s) 169 donot need to include certificates in their SC(s) because many End-User(s)do not bother to acquire a certificate or have certificates issued bynon bona-fide Certification Authorities. In the Secure Digital ContentElectronic Distribution System 100, the Clearinghouse(s) 105 has theoption of issuing certificates to the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103. This allows the End-User Device(s) 109 to independentlyverify that the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 have beenauthorized by the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System100.

E. Guide To The SC(s) Graphical Representation

This document uses a drawing to graphically represent SC(s) that showsencrypted parts, non-encrypted parts, the encryption keys, andcertificates. Referring now to FIG. 2 is an example drawing of SC(s)200. The following symbols are used in the SC(s) figures. Key 201 is apublic or private key. The teeth of the key e.g. CLRNGH forClearinghouse indicate the key owner. PB inside the handle indicatesthat it is a public key thus key 201 is a Clearinghouse public key. PVinside the handle indicates that it is a private key. Diamond shape isan End-User Digital Signature 202. The initials indicate which privatekey was used to create the signature thus in EU is the End-User(s)digital signature from table below. Symmetric key 203 is used to encryptcontent. An encrypted symmetric key object 204 comprising a symmetrickey 203 encrypted with a PB of CLRNGH. The key on the top border of therectangle is the key used in the encryption of the object. The symbol ortext inside the rectangle indicates the encrypted object (a symmetrickey in this case). Another encrypted object, in this example aTransaction ID encrypted object 205 is shown. And Usage Conditions 206for content licensing management as described below. The SC(s) 200comprises Usage Conditions 206, Transaction ID encrypted object 205, anApplication ID encrypted object 207, and encrypted symmetric key object204, all signed with an End-User Digital Signature 202.

The table below shows the initials that identify the signer of SC(s).

Initial Component CP Content Provider(s) 101 MS Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 HS Content Hosting Site(s) 111 EU End-UserDevice(s) 109 CH Clearinghouse(s) 105 CA certification authority(ies)(not shown)

F. Example of a Secure Container Encryption

The tables and diagrams below provide an overview of the encryption anddecryption process used to create and recover information from SC(s).The SC(s) that is created and decrypted in this process overview is ageneral SC(s). It does not represent any of the specific SC(s) typesused for rights management in the Secure Digital Content ElectronicDistribution System 100. The process consists of the steps described inFIG. 3 for encryption process.

Process Flow for Encryption Process of FIG. 3

Step Process 301 Sender generates a random symmetric key and uses it toencrypt the content. 302 Sender runs the encrypted content through ahash algorithm to produce the content digest. 303 Sender encrypts thesymmetric key using the recipient's public key. PB RECPNT refers to therecipient's public key. 304 Sender runs the encrypted symmetric keythrough the same hash algorithm used in step 2 to produce the symmetrickey digest. 305 Sender runs the concatenation of the content digest andsymmetric key digest through the same hash algorithm used in step 2 toproduce the SC(s) digest. 306 Sender encrypts the SC(s) digest with thesender's private key to produce the digital signature for the SC(s). PVSENDER refers to the sender's private key. 307B Sender creates a SC(s)file that includes the encrypted content, encrypted symmetric key,content digest, symmetric key digest, sender's certificate, and SC(s)signature. 307A Sender must have obtained the certificate from acertification authority prior to initiating secure communications. Thecertification authority includes in the certificate the sender's publickey, the sender's name and signs it. PV CAUTHR refers to thecertifications authority's private key. Sender transmits the SC(s) tothe recipient.

Process Flow for Decryption Process of FIG. 4

Step Process 408 Recipient receives the SC(s) and separates its parts.409 Recipient verifies the digital signature in the sender's certificateby decrypting it with the public key of the certification authority. Ifthe certificate's digital signature is valid, recipient acquires thesender's public key from the certificate. 410 Recipient decrypts theSC(s) digital signature using the sender's public key. This recovers theSC(s) digest. PB SENDER refers to the sender's public key. 411 Recipientruns the concatenation of the received content digest and encrypted keydigest through the same hash algorithm used by the sender to compute theSC(s) digest. 412 Recipient compares the computed SC(s) digest with theone recovered from the sender's digital signature. If they are the same,recipient confirms that the received digests have not been altered andcontinues with the decryption process. If they are not the same,recipient discards the SC(s) and notifies the sender. 413 Recipient runsthe encrypted symmetric key through the same hash algorithm used in step411 to compute the symmetric key digest. 414 Recipient compares thecomputed symmetric key digest with the one received in the SC(s). If itis the same, recipient knows that the encrypted symmetric key has notbeen altered. Recipient continues with the decryption process. If notvalid, recipient discards the SC(s) and notifies the sender. 415Recipient runs the encrypted content through the same hash algorithmused in step 411 to compute the content digest. 416 Recipient comparesthe computed content digest with the one received in the SC(s). If it isthe same, recipient knows that the encrypted content has not beenaltered. Recipient then continues with the decryption process. If notvalid, recipient discards the SC(s) and notifies the sender. 417Recipient decrypts the encrypted symmetric key using the recipient'sprivate key. This recovers the symmetric key. PV RECPNT refers to therecipient's private key. 418 Recipient uses the symmetric key to decryptthe encrypted content. This recovers the content.

III. SECURE DIGITAL CONTENT ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FLOW

The Secure Electronic Digital Content Distribution System 100, consistsof several components that are used by the different participants of thesystem. These participants include the Content Provider(s) 101,Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103, End-User(s) via End-UserDevice(s) 109 and the Clearinghouse(s) 105. A high level system flow isused as an overview of the Secure Digital Content ElectronicDistribution System 100. This flow outlined below tracks Content as itflows throughout the System 100. Additionally it outlines the steps usedby the participants to conduct the transactions for the purchase,unlocking and use of the Content 113. Some of the assumptions made inthe system flow include:

This is a system flow for a Digital Content service (Point-to-PointInterface to a PC).

Content Provider(s) 101 submits audio Digital Content in PCMuncompressed format (as a music audio example).

Content Provider(s) 101 has metadata in an ODBC compliant database orContent Provider(s) 101 will enter the data directly into the ContentInformation Processing Subsystem.

Financial settlement is done by the Electronic Digital Content Store(s).

Content 113 is hosted at a single Content Hosting Site(s) 111.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that theseassumptions can be altered to accommodate the exact nature of theDigital Content e.g. music, video and program and electronicdistribution systems broadcast.

The following process flow in illustrated in FIG. 1.

Step Process 121 A uncompressed PCM audio file is provided as Content113 by the Content Provider(s) 101. Its filename is input into the WorkFlow Manager 154 Tool along with the Content Provider(s)' 101 uniqueidentifier for the Content 113. 122 Metadata is captured from theContent Provider(s)' Database 160 by the Content Information ProcessingSubsystem using the Content Provider(s)' 101 unique identifier for theContent 113 and information provided by the Database Mapping Template.123 The Work Flow Manager Tool 154 is used to direct the content flowthrough the acquisition and preparation process at the ContentProvider(s) 101. It can also be used to track the status of any piece ofcontent in the system at any time. 124 The Usage Conditions for theContent 113 are entered into the Content Information ProcessingSubsystem, this can be done either manually or automatically. This dataincludes copy restriction rules and any other business rules deemednecessary. All of the metadata entry can occur in parallel with theAudio Processing for the data. 125 The Watermarking Tool is used to hidedata in the Content 113 that the Content Provider(s) 101 deems necessaryto identify the content. This could include when it was captured, whereit came from (this Content Provider(s) 101), or any other informationspecified by the Content Provider(s) 101.  The Content 113 Encoding Toolperforms equalization, dynamic  range adjustments and re-sampling to theContent 113 as  necessary for the different compression levelssupported.  The Content 113 is compressed using the Content 113 Encoding Tool to the desired compression levels. The Content 113 can  then beplayed back to verify that the compression produces the  required levelof Content 113 quality. If necessary the equal-  ization, dynamic rangeadjustments, compression and playback  quality checks can be performedas many times as desired.  The Content 113 and a subset of its metadatais encrypted with a  Symmetric Key by the SC Packer. This tool thenencrypts the  key using the Public Key of the Clearinghouse(s) 105 toproduce  an Encrypted Symmetric Key. This key can be transmitted any- where without comprising the security of the Content 113 since  theonly entity that can decrypt it is the Clearinghouse(s) 105. 126 TheEncrypted Symmetric Key, metadata and other information about theContent 113 is then packed into a Metadata SC by the SC Packer Tool 152.127 The encrypted Content 113 and metadata are then packed into aContent SC. At this point the processing on the Content 113 and metadatais complete. 128 The Metadata SC(s) is then sent to the ContentPromotions Web Site 156 using the Content Disbursement Tool (not shown).129 The Content Disbursement Tool sends the Content SC(s) to the ContentHosting Site(s) 111. The Content Hosting Site(s) can reside at theContent Provider(s) 101, the Clearinghouse(s) 105 or a special locationdedicated for Content Hosting. The URL for this site is part of themetadata that was added to the Metadata SC. 130 The Content PromotionsWeb Site 156 notifies Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 of newContent 113 that is added to the System 100. 131 Using the ContentAcquisition Tool, Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 then downloadthe Metadata SCs that correspond to the Content 113 they wish to sell.132 The Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 will use the ContentAcquisition Tool to pull out any data from the Metadata SC(s) that theywant to use to promote the Content 113 on their Web Site. Access toportions of this metadata can be secured and charged for if desired. 133The Usage Conditions for the Content 113, specific to this ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103, are entered using the Content AcquisitionTool. These Usage Conditions include the retail prices and copy/playrestrictions for the different compression levels of the Content 113.134 The Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 specific UsageConditions and the original Metadata SC(s) are packed into an Offer SCby the SC Packer Tool. 135 After the Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103 Web Site is up- dated, the Content 113 is available to End-User(s)surfing the Web. 136 When an End-User(s) finds Content 113 that theywant to buy, they click on a content icon, such as a music icon, and theitem is added to his/her shopping cart which is maintained by theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103. When the End-User(s) completesshopping they submit the purchase request to the Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 for processing. 137 The Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 then interacts with credit card clearing organizations toplace a hold on the funds in the same way they do business today. 138Once the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 receives the creditcard authorization number back from the credit card clearingorganization, it stores this into a database and invokes the SC PackerTool to build a Transaction SC. This Transaction SC includes all of theOffer SCs for the Content 113 that the End-User(s) has purchased, aTransaction ID that can be tracked back to the Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103, information that identifies the End-User(s),compression levels, Usage Conditions and the price list for the songspurchased. 139 This Transaction SC is then transmitted to the End-UserDevice(s) 109. 140 When the Transaction SC arrives on the End-UserDevice(s) 109, it kicks off the End-User Player Application 195 whichopens the Transaction SC and acknowledges the End-User's purchase. TheEnd-User Player Application 195 then opens the individual Offer SCs andinforms the user with an estimate of the download time. It then asks theuser to specify when they want to download the Content 113. 141 Based onthe time the End-User(s) requested the download, the End-User PlayerApplication 195 will wake up and initiate the start of the downloadprocess by building a Order SC that contains among other things theEncrypted Symmetric Key for the Content 113, the Transaction ID, andEnd-User(s) information. 142 This Order SC is then sent to theClearinghouse(s) 105 for processing. 143 The Clearinghouse(s) 105receives the Order SC, opens it and verifies that none of the data hasbeen tampered with. The Clearinghouse(s) 105 validates the UsageConditions purchased by the End-User(s). These Usage Conditions mustcomply with those specified by the Content Provider(s) 101. Thisinformation is logged in a database. 144 Once all the checks arecomplete, the Encrypted Symmetric Key is decrypted using the private keyof the Clearinghouse(s) 105. The Symmetric Key is then encrypted usingthe public key of the End-User(s). This new Encrypted Symmetric Key isthen packaged into a License SC by the SC Packer. 145 The License SC isthen transmitted to the End-User(s). 146 When the License SC is receivedat the End-User Device(s) 109 it is stored in memory until the ContentSC is downloaded. 147 The End-User Device(s) 109 request from theContent Hosting Facility 111, sending the corresponding License SC forthe purchased Content 113. 148 Content 113 is sent to the End-UserDevice(s) 109. Upon the receipt the Content 113 is de-encrypted by theEnd-User Device(s) 109 using the Symmetric Key.

IV. RIGHTS MANAGEMENT ARCHITECTURE MODEL

A. Architecture Layer Functions

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the Rights Management Architecture of theSecure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100.Architecturally, four layers represent the Secure Digital ContentElectronic Distribution System 100: the License Control Layer 501, theContent Identification Layer 503, Content Usage Control Layer 505, andthe Content Formatting Layer 507. The overall functional objective ofeach layer and the individual key functions for each layer are describedin this section. The functions in each of the layers are fairlyindependent of the functions in the other layers. Within broadlimitations, functions in a layer can be substituted with similarfunctions without affecting the functionality of the other layers.Obviously, it is required that the output from one layer satisfiesformat and semantics acceptable to the adjacent layer.

The License Control Layer 501 ensures that:

the Digital Content is protected during distribution against illegalinterception and tampering;

the Content 113 originates from a rightful content owner and isdistributed by a licensed distributor, e.g. Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103;

the Digital Content purchaser has a properly licensed application;

the distributor is paid by the purchaser before a copy of the Content113 is made available to the purchaser or End-User(s); and

a record of the transaction is kept for reporting purposes.

The Content Identification Layer 503 allows for the verification of thecopyright and the identity of the content purchaser. The content'scopyright information and identity of the content purchaser enables thesource tracking of any, authorized or not, copy of the Content 113.Thus, the Content Identification Layer 503 provides a means to combatpiracy.

The Content Usage Control Layer 505 ensures that the copy of the Content113 is used in the purchaser's device according to the Store UsageConditions 519. The Store Usage Conditions 519 may specify the number ofplays and local copies allowed for the Content 113, and whether or notthe Content 113 may be recorded to an external portable device. Thefunctions in the Content Usage Control Layer 505 keep track of thecontent's copy/play usage and update the copy/play status.

The Content Formatting Layer 507 allows for the format conversion of theContent 113 from its native representation in the content owner'sfacilities into a form that is consistent with the service features anddistribution means of the Secure Digital Content Electronic DistributionSystem 100. The conversion processing may include compression encodingand its associated preprocessing, such as frequency equalization andamplitude dynamic adjustment. For Content 113 which is audio, at thepurchaser's side, the received Content 113 also needs to be processed toachieve a format appropriate for playback or transfer to a portabledevice.

B. Function Partitioning and Flows

The Rights Management Architectural Model is shown in FIG. 5 and thisillustrates the mapping of the architectural layers to the operatingcomponents making up the Secure Digital Content Electronic DistributionSystem 100 and the key functions in each layer.

1. Content Formatting Layer 507

The general functions associated with the Content Formatting Layer 507are Content Preprocessing 502 and Compression 511 at the ContentProvider(s) 101, and Content De-scrambling 513 and Decompression 515 atthe End-User Device(s) 109. The need for preprocessing and the examplesof specific functions were mentioned above. Content Compression 511 isused to reduce the file size of the Content 113 and its transmissiontime. Any compression algorithm appropriate for the type of Content 113and transmission medium can be used in the Secure Digital ContentElectronic Distribution System 100. For music, MPEG 1/2/4, Dolby AC-2and AC-3, Sony Adaptive Transform Coding (ATRAC), and low-bit ratealgorithms are some of the typically used compression algorithms. TheContent 113 is stored in the End-User Device(s) 109 in compressed formto reduce the storage size requirement. It is decompressed during activeplayback. De-scrambling is also performed during active playback. Thepurpose and type of scrambling will be described later during thediscussion of the Content Usage Control Layer 505.

2. Content Usage Control Layer 505

The Content Usage Control Layer 505 permits the specification andenforcement of the conditions or restrictions imposed on the use ofContent 113 use at the End-User Device(s) 109. The conditions mayspecify the number of plays allowed for the Content 113, whether or nota secondary copy of the Content 113 is allowed, the number of secondarycopies, and whether or not the Content 113 may be copied to an externalportable device. The Content Provider(s) 101 sets the allowable UsageConditions 517 and transmits them to the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 in a SC (see the License Control Layer 501 section). TheElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 can add to or narrow the UsageConditions 517 as long as it doesn't invalidate the original conditionsset by the Content Provider(s) 101. The Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 then transmits all Store Usage Conditions 519 (in a SC) tothe End-User Device(s) 109 and the Clearinghouse(s) 105. TheClearinghouse(s) 105 perform Usage Conditions Validation 521 beforeauthorizing the Content 113 release to an End-User Device(s) 109.

The enforcement of the content Usage Conditions 517 is performed by theContent Usage Control Layer 505 in the End-User Device(s) 109. First,upon reception of the Content 113 copy from the Content IdentificationLayer 503 in the End-User Device(s) 109 marks the Content 113 with aCopy/Play Code 523 representing the initial copy/play permission.Second, the Player Application 195 cryptographically scrambles theContent 113 before storing it in the End-User Device(s) 109. The PlayerApplication 195 generates a scrambling key for each Content item, andthe key is encrypted and hidden in the End-User Device(s) 109. Then,every time the End-User Device(s) 109 accesses the Content 113 for copyor play, the End-User Device(s) 109 verifies the copy/play code beforeallowing the de-scrambling of the Content 113 and the execution of theplay or copy. The End-User Device(s) 109 also appropriately updates thecopy/play code in the original copy of the Content 113 and on any newsecondary copy. The copy/play coding is performed on Content 113 thathas been compressed. That is, there is no need to decompress the Content113 before the embedding of the copy/play code.

The End-User Device(s) 109 uses a License Watermark 527 to embed thecopy/play code within the Content 113. Only the End-User PlayerApplication 195 that is knowledgeable of the embedding algorithm and theassociated scrambling key is able to read or modify the embedded data.The data is invisible or inaudible to a human observer; that is, thedata introduces no perceivable degradation to the Content 113. Since thewatermark survives several steps of content processing, datacompression, D-to-A and A-to-D conversion, and signal degradationintroduced by normal content handling, the watermark stays with theContent 113 in any representation form, including analog representation.

3. Content Identification Layer 503

As part of the Content Identification Layer 503, the Content Provider(s)101 also uses a License Watermark 527 to embed data in the Content 113such as to the content identifier, content owner and other information,such as publication date and geographic distribution region. Thiswatermark is referred to here as the Copyright Watermark 529. Uponreception, the End-User Device(s) 109 watermarks the copy of the Content113 with the content purchaser's name and the Transaction ID 535 (seethe License Control Layer 501 section below), and with other informationsuch as date of license and Usage Conditions 517. This watermark isreferred to here as the license watermark. Any copy of Content 113,obtained in an authorized manner or not, and subject to audio processingthat preserves the content quality, carries the copyright and licensewatermarks. The Content Identification Layer 503 deters piracy.

4. License Control Layer 501

The License Control Layer 501 protects the Content 113 againstunauthorized interception and ensures that the Content is only releasedon an individual basis to an End-User(s) that has properly licensedEnd-User Device(s) 109 and successfully completes a license purchasetransaction with an authorized Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103.The License Control Layer 501 protects the Content 113 by doubleEncryption 531. The Content 113 is encrypted using an encryptionsymmetric key generated by the Content Provider(s) 101, and thesymmetric key is encrypted using the public key 621 of theClearinghouse(s). Only the Clearinghouse(s) 105 can initially recoverthe symmetric key.

License control is designed with the Clearinghouse(s) 105 as the“trusted party”. Before releasing permission for the License Request537, (i.e. the Symmetric Key 623 for the Content 113 to an End-UserDevice(s) 109), the Clearinghouse(s) 105 verifies that the Transaction541 and the License Authorization 543 are complete and authentic, thatthe Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 has authorization from theSecure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100 for the saleof electronic Content 113, and that the End-User(s) has a properlylicensed application. Audit/Reporting 545 allows the generation ofreports and the sharing of licensing transaction information with otherauthorized parties in the Secure Electronic Digital Content DistributionSystem 100

License control is implemented through SC Processing 533. SC(s) are usedto distribute encrypted Content 113 and information among the systemoperation components (more about the SC(s) detailed structure sectionsbelow). A SC is cryptographic carrier of information that usescryptographic encryption, digital signatures and digital certificates toprovide protection against unauthorized interception and modification ofthe electronic information or Content 113. It also allows for theauthenticity verification of the electronic data.

License control requires that the Content Provider(s) 101, theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103, and the Clearinghouse(s) 105have bona-fide cryptographic digital certificates from reputableCertificate Authorities that are used to authenticate those components.The End-User Device(s) 109 are not required to have digitalcertificates.

C. Content Distribution and Licensing Control

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of the ContentDistribution and Licensing Control as it applies to the License ControlLayer of FIG. 5. The figure depicts the case in which the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103, End-User Device(s) 109 and theClearinghouse(s) 105 are interconnected via the Internet, and unicast(point-to-point) transmission is used among those components. Thecommunication between the Content Provider(s) 101 and the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 could also be over the Internet or othernetwork. It is assumed that the Content-purchase commercial transactionbetween the End-User Device(s) 109 and the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 is based on standard Internet Web protocols. As part of theWeb-based interaction, the End-User(s) makes the selection of theContent 113 to purchase, provides personal and financial information,and agrees to the conditions of purchase. The Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 could obtain payment authorization from an acquirerinstitution using a protocol such as SET.

It is also assumed in FIG. 6 that the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 has downloaded the End-User Player Application 195 to anEnd-User Device(s) 109 based on standard Web protocols. The architecturerequires that the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 assigns aunique application ID to the downloaded Player Application 195 and thatthe End-User Device(s) 109 stores it for later application licenseverification (see below).

The overall licensing flow starts at the Content Provider(s) 101. TheContent Provider(s) 101 encrypts the Content 113 using an encryptionsymmetric key locally generated, and encrypts the Symmetric Key 623using the Clearinghouse's 105 public key 621. The Content Provider(s)101 creates a Content SC(s) 630 around the encrypted Content 113, and aMetadata SC(s) 620 around the encrypted Symmetric Key 623, Store UsageConditions 519, and other Content 113 associated information. There isone Metadata SC(s) 620 and one Content SC(s) 630 for every Content 113object. The Metadata SC(s) 620 also carries the Store Usage Conditions519 associated with the Content Usage Control Layer 505.

The Content Provider(s) 101 distributes the Metadata SC(s) 620 to one ormore Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 (step 601) and the ContentSC(s) 630 to one or more Content Hosting Sites (step 602). EachElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103, in turn creates an Offer SC(s)641. The Offer SC(s) 641 typically carries much of the same informationas the Metadata SC(s) 620, including the Digital Signature 624 of theContent Provider(s) 101 and the Certificate (not shown of the ContentProvider(s) 101. As mentioned above, the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 can add to or narrow the Store Usage Conditions 519(handled by the Control Usage Control Layer) initially defined by theContent Provider(s) 101. Optionally, the Content SC(s) 630 and/or theMetadata SC(s) 620 is signed with a Digital Signature 624 of the ContentProvider(s) 101.

After the completion of the Content-purchase transaction between theEnd-User Device(s) 109 and the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103(step 603), the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 creates andtransfers to the End-User Device(s) 109 a Transaction SC(s) 640 (step604). The Transaction SC(s) 640 includes a unique Transaction ID 535,the purchaser's name (i.e. End-User(s)') (not shown), the Public Key 661of the End-User Device(s) 109, and the Offer SC(s) 641 associated withthe purchased Content 113. Transaction Data 642 in FIG. 6 representsboth the Transaction ID 535 and the End-User(s) name (not shown). TheTransaction Data 642 is encrypted with the Public Key 621 of theClearinghouse(s) 105. Optionally, the Transaction SC(s) 640 is signedwith a Digital Signature 643 of the Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103.

Upon reception of the Transaction SC(s) 640 (and the Offer SC(s) 641included in it), the End-User Player Application 195 running on End-UserDevice(s) 109 solicits license authorization from the Clearinghouse(s)105 by means of an Order SC(s) 650 (step 605). The Order SC(s) 650includes the encrypted Symmetric Key 623 and Store Usage Conditions 519from the Offer SC(s) 641, the encrypted Transaction Data 642 from theTransaction SC(s) 640, and the encrypted Application ID 551 from theEnd-User Device(s) 109. In another embodiment, the Order SC(s) 650 issigned with a Digital Signature 652 of the End-User Device(s) 109.

Upon reception of the Order SC(s) 650 from the End-User Device(s) 109,the Clearinghouse(s) 105 verifies:

1. that the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 has authorizationfrom the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100(exists in the Database 160 of the Clearinghouse(s) 105);

2. that the Order SC(s) 650 has not been altered;

3. that the Transaction Data 642 and Symmetric Key 623 are complete andauthentic;

4. that the electronic Store Usage Conditions 519 purchased by theEnd-User Device(s) 109 are consistent with those Usage Conditions 517set by the Content Provider(s) 101; and

5. that the Application ID 551 has a valid structure and that it wasprovided by an authorized Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103.

If the verifications are successful, the Clearinghouse(s) 105 decryptsthe Symmetric Key 623 and the Transaction Data 642 and builds andtransfers the License SC(s) 660 to the End-User Device(s) 109 (step606). The License SC(s) 660 carries the Symmetric Key 623 and theTransaction Data 642, both encrypted using the Public Key 661 of theEnd-User Device(s) 109. If any verification is not successful, theClearinghouse(s) 105 denies the license to the End-User Device(s) 109and informs the End-User Device(s) 109. The Clearinghouse(s) 105 alsoimmediately informs the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 of thisverification failure. In an alternate embodiment, the Clearinghouse(s)105 signs the License SC(s) 660 with its Digital Signature 663.

After receiving the License SC(s) 660, the End-User Device(s) 109decrypts the Symmetric Key 623 and the Transaction Data 642 previouslyreceived from the Clearinghouse(s) 105 and requests the Content SC(s)630 (step 607) from a Content Hosting Site(s) 111. Upon arrival of theContent SC(s) 630 (step 608), the End-User Device(s) 109 decrypts theContent 113 using the Symmetric Key 623 (step 609), and passes theContent 113 and the Transaction Data 642 to the other layers for licensewatermarking, copy/play coding, scrambling, and further Content 113processing as described previously for FIG. 5.

Finally, the Clearinghouse(s) 105 on a periodic basis transmits summarytransaction reports to the Content Provider(s) 101 and the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 for auditing and tracking purposes (step610).

V. SECURE CONTAINER STRUCTURE

A. General Structure

A Secure Container (SC) is a structure that consists of several partswhich together define a unit of Content 113 or a portion of atransaction, and which also define related information such as UsageConditions, metadata, and encryption methods. SC(s) are designed in sucha way that the integrity, completeness, and authenticity of theinformation can be verified. Some of the information in SC(s) may beencrypted so that it can only be accessed after proper authorization hasbeen obtained.

SC(s) include at least one bill of materials (BOM) part which hasrecords of information about the SC(s) and about each of the partsincluded in the SC(s). A message digest is calculated, using a hashingalgorithm such as MD-5, for each part and then included in the BOMrecord for the part. The digests of the parts are concatenated togetherand another digest is computed from them and then encrypted using theprivate key of the entity creating the SC(s) to create a digitalsignature. Parties receiving the SC(s) can use the digital signature toverify all of the digests and thus validate the integrity andcompleteness of the SC(s) and all of its parts.

The following information may be included as records in the BOM alongwith the records for each part. The SC(s) type determines which recordsneed to be included:

SC(s) version

SC(s) ID

Type of SC(s) (e.g. Offer, Order, Transaction, Content, Metadata orpromotional and License.)

Publisher of the SC(s)

Date that the SC(s) was created

Expiration date of the SC(s)

Clearinghouse(s) URL

Description of the digest algorithm used for the included parts (defaultis MD-5)

Description of the algorithm used for the digital signature encryption(default is RSA)

Digital signature (encrypted digest of all of the concatenated digestsof the included parts)

SC(s) may include more than one BOM. For example, an Offer SC(s) 641consists of the original Metadata SC(s) 620 parts, including its BOM, aswell as additional information added by the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 and a new BOM. A record for the Metadata SC(s) 620 BOM isincluded in the Offer SC(s) 641 BOM. This record includes a digest forthe Metadata SC(s) 620 BOM which can be used to validate its integrityand therefore, the integrity of the parts included from the MetadataSC(s) 620 can also be validated using the part digest values stored inMetadata SC(s) 620 BOM. None of the parts from the Metadata SC(s) 620have records in the new BOM that was created for the Offer SC(s) 641.Only parts added by the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 and theMetadata SC(s) 620 BOM have records in the new BOM.

SC(s) may also include a Key Description part. Key Description partsinclude records that contain the following information about encryptedparts in the SC(s):

The name of the encrypted part.

The name to use for the part when it is decrypted.

The encryption algorithm used to encrypt the part.

Either a Key Identifier to indicate the public encryption key that wasused to encrypt the part or an encrypted symmetric key that, whendecrypted, is used to decrypt the encrypted part.

The encryption algorithm used to encrypt the symmetric key. This fieldis only present when the record in the Key Description part includes anencrypted symmetric key that was used to encrypt the encrypted part.

A Key Identifier of the public encryption key that was used to encryptthe symmetric key. This field is only present when the record in the KeyDescription part includes an encrypted symmetric key and the encryptionalgorithm identifier of the symmetric key that was used to encrypt theencrypted part.

If the SC(s) does not contain any encrypted parts, then there is no KeyDescription part.

B. Rights Management Language Syntax and Semantics

The Rights Management Language consists of parameters that can beassigned values to define restrictions on the use of the Content 113 byan End-User(s) after the Content 113 purchase. The restrictions on theuse of the Content 113 is the Usage Conditions 517. Each ContentProvider(s) 101 specifies the Usage Conditions 517 for each of itsContent 113 items. Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 interpret theUsage Conditions 517 in Metadata SC(s) 620 and use the information toprovide different options or Store Usage Conditions 519 to theEnd-User(s) for purchase of Content 113. After an End-User(s) hasselected a Content 113 item for purchase, the End-User Device(s) 109requests authorization for the Content 113 based on Store UsageConditions 519. Before the Clearinghouse(s) 105 sends a License SC(s)660 to the End-User(s), the Clearinghouse(s) 105 verifies that the StoreUsage Conditions 519 being requested are in agreement with the allowableUsage Conditions 517 that were specified by the Content Provider(s) 101in the Metadata SC(s) 620.

When an End-User Device(s) 109 receives the Content 113 that waspurchased, the Store Usage Conditions 519 are encoded into that Content113 using the Watermarking Tool. The End-User Player Application 195running on End-User Device(s) 109 insures that the Store UsageConditions 519 that were encoded into the Content 113 are enforced.

The following are examples of Store Usage Conditions 519 for anembodiment where the Content 113 is music:

Song is recordable.

Song can be played n number of times.

C. Overview of Secure Container Flow and Processing

Metadata SC(s) 620 are built by Content. Provider(s) 101 and are used todefine Content 113 items such as songs. The Content 113 itself is notincluded in these SC(s) because the size of the Content 113 is typicallytoo large for Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 and End-User(s) toefficiently download the containers just for the purpose of accessingthe descriptive metadata. Instead, the SC(s) includes an external URL(Uniform Resource Locators) to point to the Content 113. The SC(s) alsoincludes metadata that provides descriptive information about theContent 113 and any other associated data, such as for music, the CDcover art and/or digital audio clips in the case of song Content 113.

Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 download the Metadata SC(s) 620,for which they are authorized, and build Offer SC(s) 641. In short, anOffer SC(s) 641 consists of some of the parts and the BOM from theMetadata SC(s) 620 along with additional information included by theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103. A new BOM for the Offer SC(s)641 is created when the Offer SC(s) 641 is built. Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 also use the Metadata SC(s) 620 by extractingmetadata information from them to build HTML pages on their web sitesthat present descriptions of Content 113 to End-User(s), usually so theycan purchase the Content 113.

The information in the Offer SC(s) 641 that is added by the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 is typically to narrow the selection ofUsage Conditions 517 that are specified in the Metadata SC(s) 620. AnOffer SC(s) 641 template in the Metadata SC(s) 620 indicates whichinformation can be overridden by the Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103 in the Offer SC(s) 641 and what, if any, additional information isrequired by the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 and what partsare retained in the embedded Metadata SC(s) 620.

Offer SC(s) 641 are included in a Transaction SC(s) 640 when anEnd-User(s) decides to purchase Content 113 from an Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103. The Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 buildsa Transaction SC(s) 640 and includes Offer SC(s) 641 for each Content113 item being purchased and transmits it to the End-User Device(s) 109.The End-User Device(s) 109 receives the Transaction SC(s) 640 andvalidates the integrity of the Transaction SC(s) 640 and the includedOffer SC(s) 641.

An Order SC(s) 650 is built by the End-User Device(s) 109 for eachContent 113 item being purchased. Information is included from the OfferSC(s) 641, from the Transaction SC(s) 640, and from the configurationfiles of the End-User Device(s) 109. Order SC(s) 650 are sent to theClearinghouse(s) 105 one at a time. The Clearinghouse(s) 105 URL wherethe Order SC(s) 650 is included as one of the records in the BOM for theMetadata SC(s) 620 and included again in the Offer SC(s) 641.

The Clearinghouse(s) 105 validates and processes Order SC(s) 650 toprovide the End-User Device(s) 109 with everything that is required to aLicense Watermark 527 and access purchased Content 113. One of thefunctions of the Clearinghouse(s) 105 is to decrypt the Symmetric Keys623 that are needed to decrypt the watermarking instructions from theOffer SC(s) 641 and the Content 113 from the Content SC(s) 630. Anencrypted Symmetric Key 623 record actually contains more than theactual encrypted Symmetric Key 623. Before executing the encryption, theContent Provider(s) 101 appends its name to the actual Symmetric Key623. Having the Content Provider(s)' 101 name encrypted together withthe Symmetric Key 623 provides security against a pirate ContentProvider(s) 101 that has built its own Metadata SC(s) 620 and ContentSC(s) 630 from legal SC(s). The Clearinghouse(s) 105 verifies that thename of the Content Provider(s) 101 encrypted together with theSymmetric Keys 623 matches the name of the Content Provider(s) 101 inthe SC(s) certificate.

If there are any changes required to be made to. the watermarkinginstructions by the Clearinghouse(s) 105, then the Clearinghouse(s) 105decrypts the Symmetric Key 623 and then modifies the watermarkinginstructions and encrypts them again using a new Symmetric Key 623. TheSymmetric Key 623 is then re-encrypted using the Public Key 661 of theEnd-User Device(s) 109. The Clearinghouse(s) 105 also decrypts the otherSymmetric Keys 623 in the SC(s) and encrypts them again with the PublicKey 661 of the End-User Device(s) 109. The Clearinghouse(s) 105 builds aLicense SC(s) 660 that includes the newly encrypted Symmetric Keys 623and updated watermarking instructions and sends it to the End-UserDevice(s) 109 in response to the Order SC(s) 650. If the processing ofthe Order SC(s) 650 does not complete successfully, then theClearinghouse(s) 105 returns to the End-User Device(s) 109 an HTML pagereporting the failure of the authorization process.

A License SC(s) 660 provides an End-User Device(s) 109 with everythingthat is needed to access a Content 113 item. The End-User Device(s) 109requests the appropriate Content SC(s) 630 from the Content HostingSite(s) 111. Content SC(s) 630 are built by Content Provider(s) 101 andinclude encrypted Content 113 and metadata parts. The End-User PlayerApplication 195 uses the Symmetric Keys 623 from the License SC(s) 660to decrypt the Content 113, metadata, and watermarking instructions. Thewatermarking instructions are then implemented into the Content 113 andthe Content 113 is scrambled and stored on the End-User Device(s) 109.

D. Metadata Secure Container 620 Format

The following table shows the parts that are included in a MetadataSC(s) 620. Each box in the Parts column is a separate object included inthe SC(s) along with the BOM (with the exception of part names that aresurrounded by [] characters). The BOM contains a record for each partincluded in the SC(s). The Part Exists column indicates whether the partitself is actually included in the SC(s) and the Digest column indicateswhether a message digest is computed for the part. Some parts may not bepropagated when a SC(s) is included in other SC(s) (as determined by theassociated template), although the entire original BOM is propagated.This is done because the entire BOM is required by the Clearinghouse(s)105 to verify the digital signature in the original SC(s).

The Key Description Part columns of the following table define therecords that are included in the Key Description part of the SC(s).Records in the Key Description part define information about theencryption keys and algorithms that were used to encrypt parts withinthe SC(s) or parts within another SC(s). Each record includes theencrypted part name and, if necessary, a URL that points to anotherSC(s) that includes the encrypted part. The Result Name column definesthe name that is assigned to the part after it is decrypted. The EncryptAlg column defines the encryption algorithm that was used to encrypt thepart. The Key Id/Enc Key column defines either an identification of theencryption key that was used to encrypt the part or a base64 encoding ofthe encrypted Symmetric Key 623 bitstring that was used to encrypt thepart. The Sym Key Alg column is an optional parameter that defines theencryption algorithm that was used to encrypt the Symmetric Key 623 whenthe previous column is an encrypted Symmetric Key 623. The Sym Kley IDcolumn is an identification of the encryption key that was used toencrypt the Symmetric Key 623 when the Key Id/Enc Key column is anencrypted Symmetric Key 623.

BOM Key Description Part Parts Part Exists Digest Result Name EncryptAlg Key Id/Enc Key Sym Key Alg Sym Key ID [Content URL] Output Part RC4Enc Sym Key RSA CH Pub Key [Metadata URL] Output Part RC4 Enc Sym KeyRSA CH Pub Key SC Version SC ID SC Type SC Publisher Date ExpirationDate Clearinghouse(s) URL Digest Algorithm ID Digital Signature Alg IDContent ID Yes Yes Metadata Yes Yes Usage Conditions Yes Yes SCTemplates Yes Yes Watermarking Instructions Yes Yes Output Part RC4 EncSym Key RSA CH Pub Key Key Description Part Yes Yes Clearinghouse(s)Certificate(s) Yes No Certificate(s) Yes No Digital Signature

The following describes the terms that are used in the above MetadataSC(s) table:

[Content URL]—A parameter in a record in the Key Description part. Thisis a URL that points to the encrypted Content 113 in the Content SC(s)630 that is associated with this Metadata SC(s) 620. The Metadata SC(s)620 itself does not contain the encrypted Content 113.

[Metadata URL]—A parameter in a record in the Key Description part. Thisis a URL that points to the encrypted metadata in the Content SC(s) 630that is associated with this Metadata SC(s) 620. The Metadata SC(s) 620itself does not contain the encrypted metadata.

Content ID—A part that defines a unique ID assigned to a Content 113item. There is more than one Content ID included in this part if theMetadata SC(s) 620 references more than one Content 113 item.

Metadata—Parts that contain information related to a Content 113 itemsuch as the artist name and CD cover art in the case of a song. Theremay be multiple metadata parts, some of which may be encrypted. Theinternal structure of the metadata parts is dependent on the type ofmetadata contained therein.

Usage Conditions—A part that contains information that describes usageoptions, rules, and restrictions to be imposed on an End-User(s) for useof the Content 113.

SC(s) Templates—Parts that define templates that describe the requiredand optional information for building the Offer, Order, and LicenseSC(s) 660.

Watermarking Instructions—A part that contains the encryptedinstructions and parameters for implementing watermarking in the Content113. The watermarking instructions may be modified by theClearinghouse(s) 105 and returned back to the End-User Device(s) 109within the License SC(s) 660. There is a record in the Key Descriptionpart that defines the encryption algorithm that was used to encrypt thewatermarking instructions, the output part name to use when thewatermarking instructions are decrypted, a base64 encoding of theencrypted Symmetric Key 623 bitstring that is was used to encrypt thewatermarking instructions, the encryption algorithm that was used toencrypt the Symmetric Key 623, and the identification of the public keythat is required to decrypt the Symmetric Key 623.

Clearinghouse(s) Certificate(s)—A certificate from a certificationauthority or from the Clearinghouse(s) 105 that contains the signedPublic Key 621 of the Clearinghouse(s) 105. There may be more than onecertificate, in which case a hierarchical level structure is used withthe highest level certificate containing the public key to open the nextlowest level certificate is reached which contains the Public Key 621 ofthe Clearinghouse(s) 105.

Certificate(s)—A certificate from a certification authority or from theClearinghouse(s) 105 that contains the signed Public Key 621 of theentity that created the SC(s). There may be more than one certificate,in which case a hierarchical level structure is used with the highestlevel certificate containing the public key to open the next levelcertificate, and so on, until the lowest level certificate is reachedwhich contains the public key of the SC(s) creator.

SC Version—A version number assigned to the SC(s) by the SC Packer Tool.

SC ID—A unique ID assigned to the SC(s) by the entity that created theSC(s).

SC Type—Indicates the type of SC(s) (e.g. Metadata, Offer, Order, etc.)

SC Publisher—Indicates the entity that created the SC(s).

Creation Date—Date that the SC(s) was created.

Expiration Date—Date the SC(s) expires and is no longer valid.

Clearinghouse(s) URL—Address of the Clearinghouse(s) 105 that theEnd-User Player Application 195 should interact with to obtain theproper authorization to access the Content 113.

Digest Algorithm ID—An identifier of the algorithm used to compute thedigests of the parts.

Digital Signature Alg ID—An identifier of the algorithm used to encryptthe digest of the concatenated part digests. This encrypted value is thedigital signature.

Digital Signature—A digest of the concatenated part digests encryptedwith the public key of the entity that created the SC(s).

Output Part—The name to assign to the output part when an encrypted partis decrypted.

RSA and RC4—Default encryption algorithms used to encrypt the SymmetricKeys 623 and data parts.

Enc Sym Key—A base64 encoding of an encrypted key bitstring that, whendecrypted, is used to decrypt a SC(s) part.

CH Pub Key—An identifier that indicates that the Clearinghouse's 105Public Key 621 was used to encrypt the data.

E. Offer Secure Container 641 Format

The following table shows the parts that are included in the Offer SC(s)641. The parts, with the exception of some of the metadata parts, andBOM from the Metadata SC(s) 620 are also included in the Offer SC(s)641.

BOM Key Description Part Parts Part Exists Digest Result Name EncryptAlg Key ID/Enc Key Sym Key Alg Sym Key ID Metadata SC Parts [ContentURL] Output Part RC4 Enc Sym Key RSA CH Pub Key [Metadata URL] OutputPart RC4 Enc Sym Key RSA CH Pub Key SC Version SC ID SC Type SCPublisher Date Expiration Date Clearinghouse(s) URL Digest Algorithm IDDigital Signature Alg ID Content ID Yes Yes Metadata Some Yes UsageConditions Yes Yes SC Templates Yes Yes Watermarking Instructions YesYes Output Part RC4 Enc Sym Key RSA CH Pub Key Key Description Part YesYes Clearinghouse(s) Certificate(s) Yes No Certificate(s) Yes No DigitalSignature Offer SC Parts SC Version SC ID SC Type SC Publisher DateExpiration Date Digest Algorithm ID Digital Signature Alg ID Metadata SCBOM Yes Yes Additional and Overridden Fields Yes Yes Electronic DigitalContent Yes No Store(s) Certificate Certificate(s) Yes No DigitalSignature

The following describes the terms that are used in the above Offer SC(s)641 that were not previously described for another SC(s):

Metadata SC(s) BOM—The BOM from the original Metadata SC(s) 620. Therecord in the Offer SC(s) 641 BOM includes the digest of the MetadataSC(s) 620 BOM.

Additional and Overridden Fields—Usage conditions information that wasoverridden by the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103. Thisinformation is validated by the Clearinghouse(s) 105, by means of thereceived SC(s) templates, to make sure that anything that the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 overrides is within the scope of itsauthorization.

Electronic Digital Content Store(s) Certificate—A certificate providedto the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 by the Clearinghouse(s)105 and signed by the Clearinghouse(s) 105 using its private key. Thiscertificate is used by the End-User Player Application 195 to verifythat the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 is a valid distributorof Content 113. The End-User Player Application 195 and Clearinghouse(s)105 can verify that the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 is anauthorized distributor by decrypting the certificate's signature withthe Clearinghouse's 105 Public Key 621. The End-User Player Application195 keeps a local copy of the Clearinghouse's 105 Public Key 621 that itreceives as part of its initialization during installation.

F. Transaction Secure Container 640 Format

The following table shows the parts that are included in the TransactionSC(s) 640 as well as its BOM and Key Description parts.

BOM Key Description Part Parts Part Exists Digest Result Name EncryptAlg Key ID/Enc Key Sym Key Alg Sym Key ID SC Version SC ID SC Type SCPublisher Date Expiration Date Digest Algorithm ID Digital Signature AlgID Transaction ID Yes Yes Output Part RSA CH Pub Key End-User(s) ID YesYes Output Part RSA CH Pub Key End-User(s)' Public Key Yes Yes OfferSC(s) Yes No Offer SC(s) BOMs Yes Yes Selections of Content Use Yes YesHTML to Display Yes Yes Key Description Part Yes Yes Electronic DigitalContent Yes No Store(s) Certificate Digital Signature

The following describes the terms that are used in the above TransactionSC(s) 640 that were not previously described for another SC(s):

Transaction ID 535—An ID assigned by the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 to uniquely identify the transaction.

End-User(s) ID—An identification of the End-User(s) obtained by theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 at the time the End-User(s)makes the buying selection and provides the credit card information.

End-User(s)' Public Key—The End-User(s)' Public Key 661 that is used bythe Clearinghouse(s) 105 to re-encrypt the Symmetric Keys 623. TheEnd-User(s)' Public Key 661 is transmitted to the Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 during the purchase transaction.

Offer SC(s)—Offer SC(s) 641 for the Content 113 items that werepurchased. The Offer SC(s) do not have digests computed because eachcontainer can be validated individually.

Offer SC(s) BOMs—BOM parts of the Offer SC(s) 641 that are included asparts in the Transaction SC(s) 640. The Transaction SC(s) 640 BOM has arecord for each of the Offer SC(s) 641 BOM parts. The record includes adigest of the BOM part and a parameter that identifies the name of theOffer SC(s) 641 part that is associated with this Offer SC(s) 641 BOMpart. After each Offer SC(s) 641 is unpacked by the packer, a digest iscomputed for its BOM and compared with the digest of its associatedOffer SC(s) 641 BOM record in the Transaction SC(s) 640. If the digestsmatch, then the BOMs are identical and the appropriate Offer SC(s) 641was really included in the Transaction SC(s) 640. If the digest do notmatch, then the SC(s) is not valid.

Selections of Content Use—An array of Usage Conditions for each Content113 item being purchased by the End-User(s). There is an entry for eachOffer SC(s) 641.

HTML to Display—One or more HTML pages that the End-User PlayerApplication 195 displays in the Internet browser window upon receipt ofthe Transaction SC(s) 640 or during the interaction between the End-UserDevice(s) 109 and the Clearinghouse(s) 105.

When the End-User Device(s) 109 receives a Transaction SC(s) 640, thefollowing steps may be performed to verify the integrity andauthenticity of the SC(s):

1. Verify the integrity of the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103certificate using the Public Key 621 of the Clearinghouse(s) 105. ThePublic Key 621 of the Clearinghouse(s) 105 was stored at the End-UserDevice(s) 109 after it was received as part of the initialization of theEnd-User Player Application 195 during its installation process.

2. Verify the Digital Signature 643 of the SC(s) using the public keyfrom the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 certificate.

3. Verify the hashes of the SC(s) parts.

4. Verify the integrity and authenticity of each Offer SC(s) 641included in the Transaction SC(s) 640.

5. Compute the hashes of BOMs from each Offer SC(s) 641 and compare themagainst the hashes of the Offer SC(s) 641 BOMs that are included asparts in the Transaction SC(s) 640.

G. Order Secure Container 650 Format

The following table shows the parts that are included in the Order SC(s)650 as well as its BOM and Key Description parts. These parts eitherprovide information to the Clearinghouse(s) 105 for decryption andverification purposes or is validated by the Clearinghouse(s) 105. Theparts and BOM from the Offer SC(s) 641 are also included in the OrderSC(s) 650. The Some string in the Part Exists column of the MetadataSC(s) BOM indicates that the some of those parts are not included in theOrder SC(s) 650. The BOM from the Metadata SC(s) 620 is also includedwithout any change so that the Clearinghouse(s) 105 can validate theintegrity of the Metadata SC(s) 620 and its parts.

BOM Key Description Part Parts Part Exists Digest Result Name EncryptAlg Key ID/Enc Key Sym Key Alg Sym Key ID Metadata SC(s) Parts [ContentURL] Output Part RC4 Enc Sym Key RSA CH Pub Key [Metadata URL] OutputPart RC4 Enc Sym Key RSA CH Pub Key SC(s) Version SC(s) ID SC(s) TypeSC(s) Publisher Date Expiration Date Clearinghouse(s) URL DigestAlgorithm ID Digital Signature Alg ID Content ID Yes Yes Metadata SomeYes Usage Conditions Yes Yes SC(s) Templates Yes Yes WatermarkingInstructions Yes Yes Output Part RC4 Enc Sym Key RSA CH Pub Key KeyDescription Part Yes Yes Clearinghouse(s) Certificate(s) Yes NoCertificate(s) Yes No Digital Signature Offer SC(s) Parts SC(s) VersionSC(s) ID SC(s) Type SC(s) Publisher Date Expiration Date DigestAlgorithm ID Digital Signature Alg ID Metadata SC(s) BOM Yes YesAdditional and Overridden Fields Yes Yes Electronic Digital Content YesNo Store(s) Certificate Certificate(s) Yes No Digital SignatureTransaction SC(s) Parts SC(s) Version SC(s) ID SC(s) Type SC(s)Publisher Date Expiration Date Digest Algorithm ID Digital Signature AlgID Transaction ID Yes Yes Output Part RSA CH Pub Key End-User(s) ID YesYes Output Part RSA CH Pub Key End-User(s)' Public Key Yes Yes OfferSC(s) One Offer No SC(s) Offer SC(s) BOMs One BOM Yes Selections ofContent Use Yes Yes HTML to Display in Browser Wdw Yes Yes KeyDescription Part Yes Yes Electronic Digital Content Yes No Store(s)Certificate Digital Signature Order SC(s) Parts SC(s) Version SC(s) IDSC(s) Type SC(s) Publisher Date Expiration Date Digest Algorithm IDDigital Signature Alg ID Offer SC(s) BOM Yes Yes Transaction SC(s) BOMYes Yes Encrypted Credit Card Info Yes Yes Output Part RSA CH Pub KeyKey Description Part Yes Yes Digital Signature

The following describes the terms that are used in the above Order SC(s)650 that were not previously described for another SC(s):

Transaction SC(s) BOM—The BOM in the original Transaction SC(s) 640. Therecord in the Order SC(s) 650 BOM includes the digest of the TransactionSC(s) 640 BOM.

Encrypted Credit Card Info.—Optional encrypted information from theEnd-User(s) that is used to charge the purchase to a credit card ordebit card. This information is required when the Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 that created the Offer SC(s) 641 does not handlethe customer billing, in which case the Clearinghouse(s) 105 may handlethe billing.

H. License Secure Container 660 Format

The following table shows the parts that are included in the LicenseSC(s) 660 as well as its BOM. As shown in the Key Description part, theSymmetric Keys 623 that are required for decrypting the watermarkinginstructions, Content 113, and Content 113 metadata have beenre-encrypted by the Clearinghouse(s) 105 using the End-User(s)' PublicKey 661. When the End-User Device(s) 109 receives the License SC(s) 660it decrypts the Symmetric Keys 623 and use them to access the encryptedparts from the License SC(s) 660 and the Content SC(s) 630.

BOM Key Description Part Parts Part Exists Digest Result Name EncryptAlg Key ID/Enc Key Sym Key Alg Sym Key ID [Content URL] Output Part RC4Enc Sym Key RSA EU Pub Key [Metadata URL] Output Part RC4 Enc Sym KeyRSA EU Pub Key SC(s) Version SC(s) ID SC(s) Type SC(s) Publisher DateExpiration Date Digest Algorithm ID Digital Signature Alg ID Content IDYes Yes Order SC(s) ID Yes Yes Watermarking Instructions Yes Yes OutputPart RC4 Enc Sym Key RSA EU Pub Key Key Description Part Yes YesCertificate(s) Yes No Digital Signature

The following describes the terms that are used in the above LicenseSC(s) 660 that were not previously described for another SC(s):

EU Pub Key—An identifier that indicates that the End-User(s)' Public Key661 was used to encrypt the data.

Order SC(s) 650 ID—The SC(s) ID taken from the Order SC(s) 650 BOM.

Certificate Revocation List—An optional list of certificate IDs whichwere previously issued and signed by the Clearinghouse(s) 105, but areno longer considered to be valid. Any SC(s) that have a signature whichcan be verified by a certificate that is included in the revocation listare invalid SC(s). The End-User Player Application 195 stores a copy ofthe Clearinghouse's 105 certificate revocation list on the End-UserDevice(s) 109. Whenever a revocation list is received, the End-UserPlayer Application 195 replaces its local copy if the new one is more upto date. Revocation lists includes a version number or a time stamp (orboth) in order to determine which list is the most recent.

I. CONTENT SECURE CONTAINER FORMAT

The following table shows the parts that are included in the ContentSC(s) 630 as well as the BOM:

BOM Parts Part Exists Digest SC(s) Version SC(s) ID SC(s) Type SC(s)Publisher Date Expiration Date Clearinghouse(s) 105 URL Digest AlgorithmID Digital Signature Alg ID Content ID Yes Yes Encrypted Content Yes YesEncrypted Metadata Yes Yes Metadata Yes Yes Certificate(s) Yes NoDigital Signature

The following describes the terms used in the above Content SC(s) 630that were not previously described for another SC(s):

Encrypted Content—Content 113 that was encrypted by a ContentProvider(s) 101 using a Symmetric Key 623.

Encrypted Metadata—Metadata associated with the Content 113 that wasencrypted by a Content Provider(s) 101 using a Symmetric Key 623. TheSymmetric Key 623 is typically the same one that was used to encrypt theContent 113.

There is no Key Description part included in the Content SC(s) 630 sincethe keys required to decrypt the encrypted parts are in the LicenseSC(s) 660 that is built at the Clearinghouse(s) 105.

VI. SECURE CONTAINER PACKING AND UNPACKING

A. Overview

The SC(s) Packer is a 32-bit Windows' DLL with an external API(Application Programming Interface) that can be called in either amultiple or single step process to create a SC(s) with all of thespecified parts. The SC(s) Packer 151, 152, 153 variety of hardwareplatforms supporting Windows' DLL at the Content Provider(s) 101,Clearinghouse(s) 105, Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 and othersites requiring SC(s) Packing. A BOM and, if necessary, a KeyDescription part are created and included in the SC(s). A set of packerAPIs allows the caller to specify the information required to generatethe records in the BOM and Key Description parts and to include parts inthe SC(s). Encryption of parts and Symmetric Keys 623 as well ascomputing the digests and the digital signature is also be performed bythe packer. Encryption and digest algorithms that are supported by thepacker are included in the packer code or they are called through anexternal interface.

The interface to the packer for building a SC(s) is done by an API thataccepts the following parameters as input:

A pointer to a buffer of concatenated structures. Each structure in thebuffer is a command to the packer with the information that is requiredto execute the command. Packer commands include adding a part to theSC(s) with an associated BOM record, adding a record to the BOM, andadding records to the Key Description part.

A value indicating the number of concatenated structures contained inthe above described buffer.

Name and location of the BOM part.

A value with each bit being a defined flag or a reserved flag for futureuse. The following flags are currently defined:

Indication as to whether all of the parts of the SC(s) should be bundledtogether into a single file after all of the structures in the bufferhave been processed. Bundling the parts into a single object is the laststep that is performed when building a SC(s).

Indication as to whether the digital signature is omitted from the BOMpart. If this flag is not set, then the digital signature is computedright before the SC(s) is bundled into a single object.

Either the packer or the entity calling the packer can use a SC(s)template to build a SC(s). SC(s) templates have information that defineparts and records that are required in the SC(s) that is being built.Templates can also define encryption methods and key references to usefor encrypting Symmetric Keys 623 and encrypted parts.

The packer has an API that is used to unpack a SC(s). Unpacking a SC(s)is the process of taking a SC(s) and separating it into its individualparts. The packer can then be called to decrypt any of the encryptedparts that were unpacked from the SC(s).

B. Bill of Materials (BOM) Part

The BOM part is created by the packer when a SC(s) is being built. TheBOM is a text file that contains records of information about the SC(s)and about the parts that are included in the SC(s). Each record in theBOM is on a single line with a new line indicating the start of a newrecord. The BOM usually includes digests for each part and a digitalsignature that can be used to validate the authenticity and integrity ofthe SC(s).

The record types within a BOM are as follows:

IP An IP record contains a set of Name=Value pairs pertaining to theSC(s). The following Names are reserved for specific properties ofSC(s):

V major.minor.fix

The V property specifies the version of the SC(s). This is the versionnumber of the SC(s) specification that the SC(s) was created under. Thestring that follows should be of the form major.minor.fix, where major,minor, and fix are the major release number, minor release number, andfix level, respectively.

ID Value

The ID property is a unique value that is assigned to this specificSC(s) by the entity that is creating this SC(s). The format of the valueis defined in a later version of this document.

T value

The T property specifies the type of the SC(s), which should be one of:

ORD—An Order SC(s) 650.

OFF—An Offer SC(s) 641.

LIC—A License SC(s).

TRA—A Transaction SC(s) 640.

MET—A Metadata SC(s) 620.

CON—A Content SC(s) 630.

A value

The A property identifies the author or publisher of the SC(s).Author/publisher identities should be unambiguous and/or registered withthe Clearinghouse(s) 105.

D value

The D property identifies the date, and optionally, the time that theSC(s) was created. The value should be of the formyyyy/mm/dd[@hh:mm[:ss[.fsec]][(TZ)]] representingyear/mdnth/day@hour:minute:second.decimal-fraction-of-second(time-zone). Optional parts of the value are enclosed in [] characters.

E value

The E property identifies the date, and optionally, the time that theSC(s) expires. The value should be the same form used in the D propertythat was previously defined. The expiration date/time should becompared, whenever possible, with the date/time at the Clearinghouse(s)105.

CCURL value

The CCURL property identifies the URL of the Clearinghouse(s) 105. Thevalue should be of the form of a valid external URL.

H value

The H property identifies the algorithm that was used to calculate themessage digests for the parts included in the SC(s). An example digestalgorithm is MD5.

D A D record is a data or part entry record that contains informationthat identifies the type of part, the name of the part, the (optional)digest of the part, and an (optional) indication that the part is notincluded in the SC(s). A - sign immediately after the type identifier isused to indicate that the part is not included in the SC(s). Thefollowing are reserved types of data or part records:

K[-] part_name [digest]

Specifies the Key Description part.

W[-] part_name [digest]

Specifies the watermarking instructions part.

C[-] part_name [digest]

Specifies the certificate(s) used to validate the digital signature.

T[-] part_name [digest]

Specifies the Usage Conditions part.

YF[-] part_name [digest]

Specifies the Termplate part for the Offer SC(s) 641.

YO[-] part_name [digest]

Specifies the Template part for the Order SC(s) 650.

YL[-] part_name [digest]

Specifies the Template part for the License SC(s) 660.

ID[-] part_name [digest]

Specifies the ID(s) of the Content 113 of the item(s) of Content 113being referenced.

CH[-] part_name [digest]

Specifies the Clearinghouse(s) 105 certificate part.

SP[-] part_name [digest]

Specifies the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 certificate part.

B[-] part_name [digest]

Specifies a BOM part for another SC(s) that has its parts or a subset ofits parts included in this SC(s).

BP[-] part_name sc_part_name [digest]

Specifies a BOM part for another SC(s) that is included as a single partin this SC(s). The sc_part_name parameter is the name of the SC(s) partthat is included in this SC(s) and that this BOM part defines. A BOMthat is identical to this one is also included in the SC(s) that isdefined by the sc_part_name parameter.

D[-] part_name [digest]

Specifies a data (or metadata) part.

S An S record is a signature record the is used to define the digitalsignature of the SC(s). The digital signature is specified as follows:

S key_identifier signature_string signature_algorithrn

The S record contains the key_identifier to indicate the encryption keyof the signature, the signature_string, which is the base64 encoding ofthe digital signature bitstring, and the signature algorithm that wasused to encrypt the digest to create the digital signature.

C. Key Description Part

The Key Description part is created by the packer to provide informationabout encryption keys that are needed for decryption of SC(s) encryptedparts. The encrypted parts may be included in the SC(s) being built ormay be in other SC(s) which are referred to by the SC(s) being built.The Key Description part is a text file that contains records ofinformation about the encryption keys and the parts for which theencryption keys are used. Each record in the Key Description part is ona single line with a new line indicating the start of a new record.

The following record type is used within a Key Description part and isdefined as follows:

K encrypted_part_name; result_part_name;part_encryption_algorithm_identifier;public_key_identifier_or_encrypted_key comprising[key_encryption_algorithm_identifier and key_public_key_identifier].

A K record specifies an encrypted part that may be included in thisSC(s) or may be included in another SC(s) that is referred to by thisrecord. The encrypted_part_name is either the name of a part in thisSC(s) or a URL pointing to the name of the encrypted part in anotherSC(s). The result_part_name is the name that is given to the decryptedpart. The part_encryption_algorithm_identifier indicates the encryptionalgorithm that was used to encrypt the part. Thepublic_key_identifier_or_encrypted_key is either an identifier of thekey that was used to encrypt the part or a base64 encoding of theencrypted Symmetric Key 623 bitstring that was used to encrypt the part.

The key_encryption_algorithm_identifier and thekey_public_key_identifier are only specified when thepublic_key_identifier_or_encrypted_key is an encrypted Symmetric Key623. In this case the key_encryption_algorithm_identifier indicates theencryption algorithm that was used to encrypt the Symmetric Key 623 andthe key_public_key_identifier indicates the encryption key that was usedto encrypt the Symmetric Key 623.

VII. CLEARINGHOUSE(S) 105

A. Overview

The Clearinghouse(s) 105 is responsible for the rights managementfunctions of the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System100. Clearinghouse(s) 105 functions include enablement of ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103, verification of rights to Content 113,integrity and authenticity validation of the buying transaction andrelated information, distribution of Content encryption keys orSymmetric Keys 623 to End-User Device(s) 109, tracking the distributionof those keys, and reporting of tansaction summaries to ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 and Content Provider(s) 101. Contentencryption keys are used by End-User Device(s) 109 to unlock Content 113for which they have obtained rights, typically by a purchase transactionfrom an authorized Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103. Before aContent encryption key is sent to an End-User Device(s) 109, theClearinghouse(s) 105 goes through a verification process to validate theauthenticity of the entity that is selling the Content 113 and therights that the End-User Device(s) 109 has to the Content 113. This iscalled the SC Analysis Tool 185. In some configurations theClearinghouse(s) 105 may also handle the financial settlement of Content113 purchases by co-locating a system at the Clearinghouse(s) 105 thatperforms the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 functions of creditcard authorization and billing. The Clearinghouse(s) 105 uses OEMpackages such as ICVerify and Taxware to handle the credit cardprocessing and local sales taxes.

Electronic Digital Content Store(s) Embodiment

An Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 that wants to participate asa seller of Content 113 in the Secure Digital Content ElectronicDistribution System 100 makes a request to one or more of the DigitalContent Provider(s) 101 that provide Content 113 to the Secure DigitalContent Electronic Distribution System 100. There is no definitiveprocess for making the request so long as the two parties come to anagreement. After the digital content label such as a Music Label e.g.Sony, Time-Warner, etc. decides to allow the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 to sell its Content 113, the Clearinghouse(s) 105 iscontacted, usually via E-mail, with a request that the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 be added to the Secure Digital ContentElectronic Distribution System 100. The digital content label providesthe name of the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 and any otherinformation that may be required for the Clearinghouse(s) 105 to createa digital certificate for the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103.The digital certificate is sent to the digital content label in a securefashion, and then forwarded by the digital content label to theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103. The Clearinghouse(s) 105maintains a database of digital certificates that it has assigned. Eachcertificate includes a version number, a unique serial number, thesigning algorithm, the name of the issuer (e.g., the name ofClearinghouse(s) 105), a range of dates for which the certificate isconsidered to be valid, the name Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103, the public key of the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103, anda hash code of all of the other information signed using the private keyof the Clearinghouse(s) 105. Entities that have the Public Key 621 ofthe Clearinghouse(s) 105 can validate the certificate and then beassured that a SC(s) with a signature that can be validated using thepublic key from the certificate is a valid SC(s).

After the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 has received itsdigital certificate that was created by the Clearinghouse(s) 105 and thenecessary tools for processing the SC(s) from the digital content label,it can begin offering Content 113 that can be purchased by End-User(s).The Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 includes its certificate inthe Offer SC(s) 641 and the Transaction SC(s) 640 and signs the SC(s)using its Digital Signature 643. The End-User Device(s) 109 verifiesthat the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 is a valid distributorof Content 113 on the Secure Digital Content Electronic DistributionSystem 100 by first checking the digital certificate revocation list andthen using the Public Key 621 of the Clearinghouse(s) 105 to verify theinformation in the digital certificate for the Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103. A digital certificate revocation list ismaintained by the Clearinghouse(s) 105. The revocation list is includedas one of the parts in every License SC(s) 660 that is created by theClearinghouse(s) 105. End-User Device(s) 109 keep a copy of therevocation list on the End-User Device(s) 109 so they can use it as partof the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 digital certificatevalidation. Whenever the End-User Device(s) 109 receives a License SC(s)660 it determines whether a new revocation list is included and if so,the local revocation list on the End-User Device(s) 109 is updated.

B. Rights Management Processing

Order SC(s) Analysis

The Clearinghouse(s) 105 receives an Order SC(s) 650 from an End-User(s)after the End-User(s) has received the Transaction SC(s) 640, whichinclude the Offer SC(s) 641, from the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103. The Order SC(s) 650 consists of parts that containinformation relative to the Content 113 and its use, information aboutthe Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 that is selling the Content113, and information about the End-User(s) that is purchasing theContent 113. Before the Clearinghouse(s) 105 begins processing theinformation in the Order SC(s) 650, it first performs some processing toinsure that the SC(s) is in fact valid and the data it contains has notbeen corrupted in any way.

Validation

The Clearinghouse(s) 105 begins the validation of Order SC(s) 650 byverifying the digital signatures, then the Clearinghouse(s) 105 verifiesthe integrity of the Order SC(s) 650 parts. To validate the digitalsignature, first the Clearinghouse(s) 105 decrypts the Contents 631 ofthe signature itself using the Public Key 661 of End-User Device(s) 109included in the Order SC(s) 650. Then, the Clearinghouse(s) 105calculates the digest of the concatenated part digests of the OrderSC(s) 650 and compares it with the digital signature's decrypted Content113. If the two values match, the digital signature is valid. To verifythe integrity of each part, the Clearinghouse(s) 105 computes the digestof the part and compares it to the digest value in the BOM. TheClearinghouse(s) 105 follows the same process to verify the digitalsignatures and part integrity for the Metadata and Offer SC(s) 641 partsincluded within the Order SC(s) 650.

The process of verification of the Transaction and Offer SC(s) 641digital signatures also indirectly verifies that the Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 is authorized by the Secure Digital ContentElectronic Distribution System 100. This is based on the fact that theClearinghouse(s) 105 is the issuer of the certificates. TheClearinghouse(s) 105 would be able to successfully verify the digitalsignatures of the Transaction SC(s) 640 and Offer SC(s) 641 using thepublic key from the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103, only if theentity signing the SC(s) has ownership of the associated private key.Only the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 has ownership of theprivate key. Notice that the Clearinghouse(s) 105 does not need to havea local database of the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103.

Then, the Store Usage Conditions 519 of the Content 113 which theEnd-User(s) is purchasing are validated by the Clearinghouse(s) 105 toinsure that they fall within the restrictions that were set in theMetadata SC(s) 620. Recall that the Metadata SC(s) 620 is includedwithin the Order SC(s) 650.

Key Processing

Processing of the encrypted Symmetric Keys 623 and of the watermarkinginstructions is done by the Clearinghouse(s) 105 after authenticity andthe integrity check of the Order SC(s) 650, the validation of theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103, and the validation of the StoreUsage Conditions 519 have been completed successfully. The MetadataSC(s) 620 portion of the Order SC(s) 650 typically has two SymmetricKeys 623 located in the Key Description part that were encrypted usingthe Public Key 621 of the Clearinghouse(s) 105. Encryption of theSymmetric Keys 623 is done by the Content Provider(s) 101 when theMetadata SC(s) 620 was created.

One Symmetric Key 623 is used for decrypting the watermarkinginstructions and the other for decrypting the Content 113 and anyencrypted metadata. The watermarking instructions are included withinthe Metadata SC(s) 620 portion in the Order SC(s) 650. The Content 113and encrypted metadata are in the Content SC(s) 630 at a Content HostingSite(s) 111. The URL and part names of the encrypted Content 113 andmetadata parts, within the Content SC(s) 630, are included in the KeyDescription part of the Metadata SC(s) 620 portion of the Order SC(s)650. The Clearinghouse(s) 105 uses its private key to decrypt theSymmetric Keys 623 and then encrypts each of them using the Public Key661 of the End-User Device(s) 109. The Public Key 661 of the End-UserDevice(s) 109 is retrieved from the Order SC(s) 650. The new encryptedSymmetric Keys 623 is included in the Key Description part of theLicense SC(s) 660 that the Clearinghouse(s) 105 returns to the End-UserDevice(s) 109.

During the time of processing the Symmetric Keys 623, theClearinghouse(s) 105 may want to make modifications to the watermarkinginstructions. If this is the case, then after the Clearinghouse(s) 105decrypts the Symmetric Keys 623, the watermarking instructions ismodified and re-encrypted. The new watermarking instructions is includedas one of the parts within the License SC(s) 660 that gets returned tothe End-User Device(s) 109.

Returning a Result

If all of the processing of the Order SC(s) 650 is successful, then theClearinghouse(s) 105 returns a License SC(s) 660 to the End-UserDevice(s) 109. The End-User Device(s) 109 uses the License SC(s) 660information to download the Content SC(s) 630 and access the encryptedContent 113 and metadata. The watermarking instructions are alsoexecuted by the End-User Device(s) 109.

If the Clearinghouse(s) 105 is not able to successfully process theOrder SC(s) 650, then an HTML page is returned to the End-User Device(s)109 and displayed in an Internet browser window. The HTML page indicatesthe reason that the Clearinghouse(s) 105 was unable to process thetransaction.

C. Country Specific Parameters

Optionally, the Clearinghouse(s) 105 uses the domain name of theEnd-User Device(s) 109 and, whenever possible, the credit card billingaddress to determine the country location of the End-User(s). If thereare any restrictions for the sale of Content 113 in the country wherethe End-User(s) resides, then the Clearinghouse(s) 105 insures that thetransaction being processed is not violating any of those restrictionsbefore transmitting License SC(s) 660 to the End-User Device(s) 109. TheElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 is also expected to participatein managing the distribution of Content 113 to various countries byperforming the same checks as the Clearinghouse(s) 105. TheClearinghouse(s) 105 does whatever checking that it can in case theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 is ignoring the country specificrules set by the Content Provider(s) 101.

D. Audit Logs and Tracking

The Clearinghouse(s) 105 maintains a Audit Logs 150 of information foreach operation that is performed during Content 113 purchasetransactions and report request transactions. The information can beused for a variety of purposes such as audits of the Secure DigitalContent Electronic Distribution System 100, generation of reports, anddata mining.

The Clearinghouse(s) 105 also maintains account balances in BillingSubsystem 182 for the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103. Pricingstructures for the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 is providedto the Clearinghouse(s) 105 by the digital content labels. Thisinformation can include things like current specials, volume discounts,and account deficit limits that need to be imposed on the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103. The Clearinghouse(s) 105 uses the pricinginformation to track the balances of the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 and insure that they do not exceed their deficit limits setby the Content Provider(s) 101.

The following operations are typically logged by the Clearinghouse(s)105:

End-User Device(s) 109 requests for License SC(s) 660

Credit card authorization number when the Clearinghouse(s) 105 handlesthe billing

Dispersement of License SC(s) 660 to End-User Device(s) 109

Requests for reports

Notification from the End-User(s) that the Content SC(s) 630 and LicenseSC(s) 660 were received and validated

The following information is typically logged by the Clearinghouse(s)105 for a License SC(s) 660:

Date and time of the request

Date and time of the purchase transaction

Content ID of the item being purchased

Identification of the Content Provider(s) 101

Store Usage Conditions 519

Watermarking instruction modifications

Transaction ID 535 that was added by the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103

Identification of the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103

Identification of the End-User Device(s) 109

End-User(s) credit card information (if the Clearinghouse(s) 105 ishandling the billing)

The following information is typically logged by the Clearinghouse(s)105 for an End-User's credit card validation:

Date and time of the request

Amount charged to the credit card

Content ID of the item being purchased

Transaction ID 535 that was added by the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103

Identification of the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103

Identification of the End-User(s)

End-User(s) credit card information

Authorization number received from the clearer of the credit card

The following information is typically logged by the Clearinghouse(s)105 when a License SC(s) 660 is sent to an End-User Device(s) 109:

Date and time of the request

Content ID of the item being purchased

Identification of Content Provider(s) 101

Usage Conditions 517

Transaction ID 535 that was added by the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103

Identification of the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103

Identification of the End-User(s)

The following information is typically logged when a report request ismade:

Date and time of the request

Date and time the report was sent out

Type of report being requested

Parameters used to generate the report

Identifier of the entity requesting the report

E. Reporting of Results

Reports are generated by the Clearinghouse(s) 105 using the informationthat the Clearinghouse(s) 105 logged during End-User(s) purchasetransactions. Content Provider(s) 101 and Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 can request transaction reports from the Clearinghouse(s)105 via a Payment Verification Interface 183 so they can reconcile theirown transaction databases with the information logged by theClearinghouse(s) 105. The Clearinghouse(s) 105 can also provide periodicreports to the Content Provider(s) 101 and Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103.

The Clearinghouse(s) 105 defines a secure electronic interface whichallows Content Provider(s) 101 and Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103 to request and receive reports. The Report Request SC(s) includes acertificate that was assigned by the Clearinghouse(s) 105 to the entityinitiating the request. The Clearinghouse(s) 105 uses the certificateand the SC's digital signature to verify that the request originatedfrom an authorized entity. The request also includes parameters, such astime duration, that define the scope of the report. The Clearinghouse(s)105 validates the request parameters to insure that requesters can onlyreceive information for which they are permitted have.

If the Clearinghouse(s) 105 determines that the Report Request SC(s) isauthentic and valid, then the Clearinghouse(s) 105 generates a reportand pack it into a Report SC(s) to be sent to the entity that initiatedthe request. Some reports may be automatically generated at defined timeintervals and stored at the Clearinghouse(s) 105 so they can beimmediately sent when a request is received. The format of the dataincluded in the report is defined in a later version of this document.

F. Billing and Payment Verification

Billing of Content 113 can be handled either by the Clearinghouse(s) 105or by the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103. In the case where theClearinghouse(s) 105 handles the billing of the electronic Content 113,the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 separates the End-User(s)'order into electronic goods and, if applicable, physical goods. TheElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 then, notifies theClearinghouse(s) 105 of the transaction, including the End-User(s)'billing information, and the total amount that needs to be authorized.The Clearinghouse(s) 105 authorizes the End-User(s)' credit card andreturns a notification back to the Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103. At the same time the Clearinghouse(s) 105 is authorizing theEnd-User(s)' credit card, the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103can charge the End-User(s)' credit card for any physical goods that arebeing purchased. After each electronic item is downloaded by theEnd-User Device(s) 109, the Clearinghouse(s) 105 is notified so theEnd-User(s)' credit card can be charged. This occurs as the last step bythe End-User Device(s) 109 before the Content 113 is enabled for use atthe End-User Device(s) 109.

In the case where the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 handlesthe billing of the electronic Content 113, the Clearinghouse(s) 105 isnot notified about the transaction until the End-User Device(s) 109sends the Order SC(s) 650 to the Clearinghouse(s) 105. TheClearinghouse(s) 105 is still notified by the End-User Device(s) 109after each electronic item is downloaded. When the Clearinghouse(s) 105is notified it sends a notification to the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 so that the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 cancharge the End-User(s)' credit card.

G. Retransmissions

The Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100 providesthe ability to handle retransmissions of Content 113. This is typicallyperformed by a Customer Service Interface 184. Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 provides a user interface that the End-User(s) canstep through in order to initiate a retransmission. The End-User(s) goesto the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 site where the Content113 item was purchased in order to request a retransmission of theContent 113.

Retransmissions of Content 113 are done when an End-User(s) requests anew copy of a previously purchased Content 113 item because the Content113 could not be downloaded or the Content 113 that was downloaded isnot usable. The Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 determineswhether the End-User(s) is entitled to do a retransmission of theContent 113. If the End-User(s) is entitled to a retransmission, thenthe Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 builds a Transaction SC(s)640 that includes the Offer SC(s) 641 of the Content 113 item(s) beingretransmitted. The Transaction SC(s) 640 is sent to the End-UserDevice(s) 109 and the identical steps as for a purchase transaction areperformed by the End-User(s). If the End-User Device(s) 109 has ascrambled key(s) in the key library for the Content 113 item(s)undergoing retransmission, then the Transaction SC(s) 640 includesinformation that instructs the End-User Device(s) 109 to delete thescrambled key(s).

In the case where the Clearinghouse(s) 105 handles the financialsettlement of Content 113 purchases, the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 includes a flag in the Transaction SC(s) 640 that iscarried forward to the Clearinghouse(s) 105 in the Order SC(s) 650. TheClearinghouse(s) 105 interprets the flag in the Order SC(s) 650 andproceed with the transaction without charging the End-User(s) for thepurchase of the Content 113.

VIII. CONTENT PROVIDER

A. Overview

The Content Provider(s) 101 in the Secure Digital Content ElectronicDistribution System 100 is the digital content label or the entity whoowns the rights to the Content 113. The role of the Content Provider(s)101 is to prepare the Content 113 for distribution and make informationabout the Content 113 available to Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103 or retailers of the downloadable electronic versions of the Content113. To provide the utmost security and rights control to the ContentProvider(s) 101, a series of tools are provided to enable the ContentProvider(s) 101 to prepare and securely package their Content 113 intoSC(s) at their premises so that the Content 113 is secure when it leavesthe Content Provider(s)' 101 domain and never exposed or accessible byunauthorized parties. This allows Content 113 to be freely distributedthroughout a non-secure network, such as the Internet, without fear ofexposure to hackers or unauthorized parties.

The end goal of the tools for the Content Provider(s) 101 is to prepareand package a Content 113 such as a song or series of songs into ContentSC(s) 630 and to package information describing the song, approved usesof the song (content Usage Conditions 517), and promotional informationfor the song into a Metadata SC(s) 620. To accomplish this, thefollowing set of tools are provided:

Work Flow Manager 154—Schedules processing activities and manages therequired synchronization of processes.

Content Processing Tool 155—A collection of tools to control Content 113file preparation including Watermarking, Encoding (for an audio exampleany required equalization, dynamic range adjustment, or re-sampling andcompression), Quality Assurance, and Encryption.

Metadata Assimilation and Entry Tool 161—A collection of tools used togather Content 113 description information from the Database 160 of theContent Provider(s) and/or third party database and/or via operatorinteraction and provides means for specifying content Usage Conditions517.

SC(s) Packer Tool 152—Packages all Content 113 and information and callsthe SC(s) Packer to pack into SC(s).

Content Dispersement Tool (not shown)—Disperses SC(s) to designateddistribution centers, such as Content Hosting Site(s) 111.

Content Promotions Web Site 156—Disperses Metadata SC(s) 620 andoptionally additional promotional material to authorized ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103.

B. Work Flow Manager 154

The purpose of this tool is to schedule, track, and manage Content 113processing activities. This application is presented via a web browserinterface to enable multi-user access as well as allowing scheduling ofContent 113 and status checking from remote locations within theIntranet or extranet of the Content Provider(s) 101. This design alsoallows for collaborative processing where multiple individuals can beworking on multiple pieces of Content 113 in parallel and differentindividuals can be assigned specific responsibilities and theseindividuals can be spread throughout the world.

The following diagram summarizes the Content 113 processing functionsprovided by the tools described in this section. The Work Flow Manager154 is responsible for feeding jobs to these processes and directingjobs to the next required process upon completion of its currentprocess. This is accomplished through a series of ApplicationProgramming Interfaces (APIs) which each processing tool calls to:

retrieve the next job to process

indicate successful completion of a process

indicate unsuccessful completion of a process and reason for the failure

provide interim status of a process (to allow initiation of processesthat require only partial completion of a dependent process)

add comments to a product which are made available to the designatedprocesses

The Work Flow Manager 154 also has a user interface, an example WorkFlow Manager User Interface 700 is illustrated in FIG. 7 which providesthe following functions:

a configuration panel to allow specification of default values andconditions to be assigned and performed during various stages ofprocessing

customization of the work flow rules and automated processing flows

job scheduling

status queries and reports

add comments or instructions for a job associated to one or moreprocesses

job management (i.e. suspend, release, remove, change priority (order ofprocessing))

Each process has a queue associated with it managed by the Work FlowManager 154. All processes requesting jobs from the Work Flow Manager154 results in the Work Flow Manager 154 either suspending the process(tool) in a wait state if there are no jobs currently in its associatedqueue or returning to the process all information about the job neededto perform its respective process. If a process is suspended in a waitstate, it resumes processing when a job is placed on its queue by theWork Flow Manager 154.

The Work Flow Manager 154 also manages the flow or order of processingbased on a set of defined rules. These rules can be customized by theContent Provider(s) 101 if it has special processing requirements orconfigures specific defaults rules. When a process reports completion ofits assigned task, it notifies the Work Flow Manager 154 of this statusand the Work Flow Manager 154 next decides what queue the job getsplaced on next based on the defined rules.

Comments indicating special handling instructions or notices may also beattached to the product at any of the processing steps via-either theprogramming API or manually through the Work Flow Manager User Interface700.

Turning now to FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the major processes of theWork Flow Manager 154 corresponding to FIG. 7. The following sectionssummarize each process and describes the information or action requiredby each process.

1. Products Awaiting Action/Information Process 801

Jobs are placed on specific processes queues once all informationrequired by that process is available and the job has alreadysuccessfully completed all dependent processing. A special queue existsin the Work Flow Manager 154 which is used to hold jobs that are notcurrently available for processing due to missing information or afailure that prevent further processing. These jobs are placed in theProducts Awaiting Action/Information Process 801 queue. Each job in thisqueue has associated status to indicate the action or information it iswaiting on, the last process that worked on this job, and the nextprocess(es) this job is queued to once the missing information isprovided or the required action is successfully completed.

Completion of any process causes the Work Flow Manager 154 to check thisqueue and determine if any job in this queue was awaiting the completionof this process (action) or information provided by this process. If so,that job is queued to the appropriate process queue.

2. New Content- Request Process 802

The Content Provider(s) 101 determines those products (for example, aproduct may be a song or a collection of songs) it wishes to sell anddeliver electronically. The initial function of the Work Flow Manager154 is to enable an operator to identify these products and to placethem on the queue of the New Content Request Process 802. The ContentProvider(s) 101 may specify through configuration options, whatinformation is prompted for on the product selection interface. Enoughinformation is entered to uniquely identify the product. Optionally,additional fields may be included to request manual entry of theinformation required to initiate the audio processing phase in parallelwith the metadata acquisition. If not provided manually, thisinformation can optionally be retrieved from default configurationsettings or from the Database 160 of the Content Provider(s), obtainedin the first stage of Metadata Processing as in Automatic MetadataAcquisition Process 803. The makeup and capabilities of the Content 113in the Database 160 of the Content Provider(s) determines the Contentselection process.

If the required information needed to perform a query to the Database160 of the Content Provider(s) 101 is specified, the job is enabled tobe queued to the Automatic Metadata Acquisition Process 803. In a musicembodiment, to properly schedule the product for audio processing, theproduct's genre and the desired compression levels are specified as wellas the audio PCM or WAV filename(s). This information may be entered aspart of the product selection process or selected via a customized queryinterface or Web browser function. Specification of this informationenables the product to be scheduled for content processing.

The product selection user interface provides an option enabling theoperator to specify whether the product can be released for processingor whether it are held pending further information entry. If held, thejob is added to the queue of the New Content Request Process 802awaiting further action to complete data entry and/or release theproduct for processing. Once the product is released, the Work FlowManager 154 evaluates the information specified and determines whichprocesses the job is ready to be passed to.

If adequate information is provided to enable an automated query to theDatabase 160 of the Content Provider(s)' 101, the job is queued forAutomatic Metadata Acquisition Process 803. If the database mappingtable has not been configured for the Automatic Metadata AcquisitionProcess 803, the job is queued for Manual Metadata Entry Process 804(see Automatic Metadata Acquisition Process 803 section for details onthe Database Mapping Table).

If the required general information for audio processing and thespecific information required for watermarking is specified, the job isqueued for Watermarking Process 808 (the first phase of contentprocessing). If any of the required information is missing when the jobis released, the job is queued to the queue of the Products AwaitingAction/Information Process 801 along with status indicating theinformation that is missing.

If the status indicates that the filename of the Content 113, forexample where the Content 113 is audio and the PCM or WAV file ismissing, this may indicate that a capture (or digital extraction fromdigital media) is required. The audio processing functions require thatthe song files be accessible via a standard file system interface. Ifthe songs are located on external media or a file system that is notdirectly accessible to the audio processing tools, the files are firstbe copied to an accessible file system. If the songs are in digitalformat but on CD or Digital Tape, they are extracted to a file systemaccessible to the audio processing tools. Once the files are accessible,the Work Flow Manager User Interface 700 is used to specify or selectthe path and filename for the job so that it can be released to thewatermarking process, assuming all other information required forwatermarking has also been specified.

3. Automatic Metadata Acquisition Process 803

The Automatic Metadata Acquisition Process 803 performs a series ofqueries to the Database 160 of the Content Provider(s) 101 in an attemptto obtain as much of the product information as possible in an automatedfashion. The Automatic Metadata Acquisition Process 803 requires thefollowing information prior to allowing items to be placed on its queue:

database mapping table with adequate information to generate queries tothe Database 160 of the Content Provider(s) 101

product information required to perform queries

adequate product information to uniquely define product

An automated query is performed to the Database 160 of the ContentProvider(s) 101 to obtain the information necessary to process thisContent 113. For example, if the Content 113 is a music, the informationneeded to perform this query could be the song and album name or may bean ISRC or a specific song ID as defined by the Content Provider(s) 101.Of the information to be obtained, some is specified as required (seethe section on Automatic Metadata Acquisition Process 803 for details).If all required information is obtained, the job is next queued forUsage Conditions Process 805. If any required information is missing,the song is queued for Manual Metadata Entry Process 804. If any jobs inthe Products Awaiting Action/Information Process 801 queue are waitingfor any of the information obtained in this step, the jobs status isupdated to indicate that it is no longer waiting for this information.If that job no longer has any outstanding requirements, it is queued tothe next defined queue.

4. Manual Metadata Entry Process 804

The Manual Metadata Entry Process 804 provides a means for an operatorto enter missing information. It has no dependencies. Once all requiredinformation is specified, the job is queued for Usage Conditions Process805.

5. Usage Conditions Process 805

The Usage Conditions Process 805 allows specification of product usesand restrictions. The Usage Conditions Process 805 may require somemetadata. Upon completion of Usage Conditions specifications, the job iseligible to be queued for Metadata SC(s) Creation Process 807 unless theSupervised Release Process 806 option has been requested or isconfigured as the default in the Work Flow Manager 154 rules. In thatcase, the job is queued for Supervised Release Process 806. Beforequeuing to Metadata SC(s) Creation Process 807, the Work Flow Manager154 will first assure that all dependencies for that process have beenmet (see below). If not, the job is queued to the Products AwaitingAction/Information Process 801.

6. Supervised Release Process 806

The Supervised Release Process 806 allows a quality check and validationof information specified for the digital content product. It does nothave any dependencies. Comments previously attached to the job at anystage of the processing for this product can be reviewed by theSupervisor and appropriate action taken. After reviewing all informationand comments, the Supervisor has the following options:

approve release and queue the product for Metadata SC(s) CreationProcess 807

modify and/or add information and queue the product for Metadata SC(s)Creation Process 807

add comments to the job and re-queue for Manual Metadata Entry Process804

add comments and queue the job to the queue for Products AwaitingAction/Information Process 801

7. Metadata SC(s) Creation Process 807

The Metadata SC(s) Creation Process 807 gathers together all theinformation collected above as well as other information required forthe Metadata SC(s) 620 and calls the SC(s) Packer Process to create theMetadata SC(s) 620. This tool requires the following as input:

the required metadata

the usage conditions

the encryption keys generated by the encryption stage of all qualitylevels for this product

This last dependency requires that the associated audio objectscompleted the audio processing phase before the Metadata SC(s) 620 canbe created. Upon completion of the Metadata SC(s) Creation Process 807,the job is queued to either the queue for Final Quality AssuranceProcess 813 or Content Dispersement Process 814 based on defined workflow rules.

8. Watermarking Process 808

The Watermarking Process 808 adds copyright and other information to theContent 113. For an embodiment where the Content 113 is a song, thistool requires the following as input:

song filename(s) (multiple filenames if album)

watermarking instructions

watermarking parameters (information to be included in the watermark)

Upon completion of the Watermarking Process 808, the job is queued forPreprocessing and Compression Process 809 if its required input isavailable or otherwise queued to the Products AwaitingAction/Information Process 801.

9. Preprocessing and Compression Process 809

The Preprocessing and Compression Process 809 encodes the Content 113 tothe specified compression level performing any required preprocessingfirst. Queuing a job to this queue actually create multiple queueentries. A job is created for each compression level of the productdesired. The encoding processes can be performed in parallel on multiplesystems. This tool requires the following input:

watermarked content filename(s) (multiple filenames if Content 113 is analbum)

quality levels for product (could be preconfigured)

compression algorithm (could be preconfigured)

product genre (if required by preprocessor)

Upon completion of the encoding process, the jobs are queued to theContent Quality Control Process 810 if configured by the work flowrules. If not, the jobs are queued for Encryption Process 811.

Third party providers of encoding tools do not provide a method todisplay the percentage of the Content 113, such as audio, that has beenprocessed. In addition, the third party providers of these tools do notprovide a method to indicate the amount of Content 113 that has beenencoded as a percentage of the entire selection of Content 113 selected.Turning now to FIG. 11 there is shown a flow diagram 100 of a method todetermine the encoding rate of Digital Content for the ContentPreprocessing and Compression tool of FIG. 8. The method begins with theselection of the desired encoding algorithm and a bit rate, step 1101.Next, a query is made to determine if this algorithm and encoding ratehas a previously calculated rate factor, step 1102. The rate factor isthe factor used to determine the rate of compression for a specificencoding algorithm and a specific bit rate. If no previously calculatedrate factor is stored, a sample of the Content 113 is encoded for apredetermined amount of time. The predetermined period of time in thepreferred embodiment is a few seconds. This rate of encoding for apredetermined period of time is used to calculate a new rate factorR_(NEW). Calculating a new rate factor R_(NEW) knowing the amount oftime and the amount of Content 113 encoded is R_(NEW)=(length of DigitalContent encoded)/(amount of time), step 1108. The Content 113 is encodedand the encoding rate is displayed using the previously calculate ratefactor R_(NEW), step 1109. This encoding rate factor R_(NEW) is thenstored, step 1107, for future use for this encoding algorithm andencoding bit rate. If the selected algorithm has a previously calculatedrate factor R_(STORED), step 1103. The Content 113 is encoded and theprogression displayed using the previously calculated rate factorR_(STORED), step 1104. In the meantime, a current rate factor,R_(current) is calculated for this selected algorithm and bit rate, step1105. This current rate factor R_(current) is used to update the storedrate factor R_(NEW)=AVERAGE OF (R_(STORED)+R_(CURRENT)), step 1106. Theiterative update of the rate factor enables the determination of theencoding rate to become more and more accurate with each subsequent usefor a particular encoding algorithm and bit rate. The new rate R is thenstored for future use, step 1107. Along with the current encoding rate,the display of the percentage of the total Content 113 can be displayedas a progression bar based on the encoding rate and the total length ofthe file for the Content 113.

It should be understood that this process like any of the otherprocesses described on the Work Flow Manager 154 can run on a variety ofhardware and software platforms. This method may be practiced on anycomputer readable medium, including but not limited to floppy diskettes,CD ROMS and removable hard disk drives (not shown).

10. Content Quality Control Process 810

The Content Quality Control Process 810 is similar in function to theSupervised Release Process 806. It is an optional step allowing someoneto validate the quality of the content processing performed thus far.This has no dependencies other than completion of the WatermarkingProcess 808 and the encoding portion of the Preprocessing andCompression Process 809. Upon completion of the Content Quality ControlProcess 810 the following options are available:

the jobs can be released and queued for Encryption Process 811.

comments can be attached and one or more of the jobs re-queued forPreprocessing and Compression Process 809.

The last option requires that the unencoded watermarked version of thesong file remain available until after Content Quality Control Process810.

11. Encryption Process 811

The Encryption Process 811 Process calls the appropriate Secure DigitalContent Electronic Distribution Rights Management function to encrypteach of the watermarked/encoded song files. This process has nodependencies other than completion of all other audio processing. Uponcompletion of the Encryption Process 811 process, the jobs is queued forContent SC(s) Creation Process 812.

12. Content SC(s) Creation Process 812

The Content SC(s) Creation Process 812 Process may require some metadatafiles to be included in the Content SC(s) 630. If files other than theContent 113 are required, the files are gathered and the SC(s) PackerProcess is called to create a Content SC(s) 630 for each compressionlevel of the Content 113 (e.g. a song) created. Upon completion of theContent SC(s) Creation Process 812, the song is queued to either theFinal Quality Assurance Process 813 or Content Dispersement Process 814queue based on defined work flow rules.

13. Final Quality Assurance Process 813

Final Quality Assurance Process 813 is an optional step that allows across reference check between the associated Metadata and Content SC(s)630 to verify that they match up correctly and that all information andContent 113 contained therein are correct. Upon completion of FinalQuality Assurance Process 813, the jobs are queued for ContentDispersement Process 814. If a problem is found, the job in most caseshas to be re-queued to the failing stage. Rework at this stage is muchmore costly since the product has to go through re-encryption andrepacking in addition to the reprocessing required to correct theproblem. It is highly recommended that the prior assurance stages beused to assure the quality of the Content 113 and accuracy andcompleteness of the information.

14. Content Dispersement Process 814

The Content Dispersement Process 814 Process is responsible fortransferring the SC(s) to the appropriate hosting sites. After thesuccessful transfer of the SC(s), the job completion status is loggedand the job is deleted from the queue. If a problem occurs intransferring the SC(s), after a defined number of retries, the job isqueued to the queue for the Products Awaiting Action/Information Process801 along with the error encountered.

15. Work Flow Rules

The Work Flow Rules for FIG. 8 operate in three major systems asfollows:

A: Work Flow Manager Tool 154

1. New Content Request Process 802

2. Products Awaiting Action/Information Process 801

3. Final Quality Assurance Process 813

4. Content Dispersement (and Notification) Process 814

B: Metadata Assimilation and Entry Tool 161

1. Automatic Metadata Acquisition Process 803

2. Manual Metadata Entry Process 804

3. Supervised Release Process 806

4. Metadata SC(s) Creation Process 807

C: Content Processing Tool 155

1. Watermarking Process 808 (requires copyright data)

2. Preprocessing and Compression Process 809

3. Content Quality Control Process 810

4. Encryption Process 811

5. Content SC(s) Creation Process 812

Work Flow

The Content 113 selection operator inputs a new product and it startsout queued onto A1 (New Content Request Process 802).

A1: When the Content 113 selection operator releases it to the Work FlowManager Tool 154, then it gets queued onto B1 (the Automatic MetadataAcquisition Process 803).

A2: coming from step B1 (the Automatic Metadata Acquisition Process803),

or step B2 (Manual Metadata Entry Process 804),

or step B3 (Supervised Release Process 806)

on its way to step B4 (the Metadata SC(s) Creation Process 807) [needsthe encryption keys].

coming from step B4 (the Metadata SC(s) Creation Process 807)

on its way to either step A3 (the Final Quality Assurance Process 813)or step A4

(the Content Dispersement Process 814) [needs the Content SC(s) 630].

coming from step C1 (the Watermarking Process 808)

on its way to step C2 (the Preprocessing and Compression Process 809)[needs the metadata for Preprocessing and Compression Process 809].

coming from step C4 (the Encryption Process 811)

on its way to step C5 (the Content SC(s) Creation Process 812) [needsthe metadata for Content SC(s) 630 Packing].

coming from step C5 (the Content SC(s) Creation Process 812)

on its way to either step A3 (the Final Quality Assurance Process 813)or step A4

(the Content Dispersement Process 814) [needs the Metadata SC(s) 620].

A3: After step A3 (the Final Quality Assurance Process 813),

place onto queue B2 (Manual Metadata Entry Process 804),

or place onto queue B3 (Supervised Release Process 806),

or place into queue as required by the quality assurance operator.

A4: After step A4 (Content Dispersement Process 814), the Work FlowManager Tool 154 is done for this product.

B: After step B1 (the Automatic Metadata Acquisition Process 803),

if the metadata needed for step C1 (the Watermarking Process 808) ispresent, then place an entry representing this product onto queue C1.

(do the following logic also)

if either 1—any required metadata is missing, or 2—there are commentsdirected to the manual metadata providers, then also place the productonto queue B2 (Manual Metadata Entry Process 804),

else if supervised release was requested for this product, then placethe product onto queue B3 (Supervised Release Process 806).

else if the product has all the information from the Content ProcessingTool 155 for all of the requested quality levels, then place the productonto queue B4 (the Metadata SC(s) Creation Process 807),

else flag the product as needs the encryption keys and place the productonto queue A2 (Products Awaiting Action/Information Process 801).

B2: During step B2 (Manual Metadata Entry Process 804),

if step C1 (the Watermarking Process 808) has not been done and themetadata needed for step C1 is present, then place an entry representingthis product onto queue C1.

(do the following logic also)

if metadata needed for step C2 (the Preprocessing and CompressionProcess 809) just been provided, then

(do the following logic also)

if all the metadata that can be gathered by the Metadata Assimilationand Entry Tool 161 is present, then

if supervised release was requested for this product, then place theproduct onto queue B3 (Supervised Release Process 806)

else

if all the information from step C4 (the Encryption Process 811) of theContent Processing Tool 155 is present, then place this product ontoqueue B4 (the Metadata SC(s) Creation Process 807)

else flag the product as needs the encryption keys and place thisproduct

onto queue A2 (Products Awaiting Action/Information Process 801).

else

if the metadata provider requested a forced supervised release, thenplace the product onto queue B3 (Supervised Release Process 806)

else do nothing (keep the product on queue B2 (Manual Metadata EntryProcess 804)).

B3: During step B3 (Supervised Release Process 806),

if this operator is sending the product back to step B2 (Manual MetadataEntry Process 804), then place the product on queue B2.

else if this operator released the product, then

if all the information from step C4 (the Encryption Process 811) of theContent Processing Tool 155 is present, then place this product ontoqueue B4 (the Metadata SC(s) Creation Process)

else flag the product as needs the encryption keys and place thisproduct onto queue A2 (Products Awaiting Action/Information Process801).

else the product remains on queue B3 (Supervised Release Process 806).

B4: After step B4 (the Metadata SC(s) Creation Process 807),

flag the product Metadata has been packed.

if all the (product/quality level) tuples have been packed, then

if the Content Provider(s)' 101 configuration specifies Quality Assurethe SC(s), then place this product onto queue A3 (the Final QualityAssurance Process 813)

else place this product onto queue A4 (the Content Dispersement Process814).

else flag the product as needs the Content 113 SC(s) and place thisproduct onto queue A2 (Products Awaiting Action/Information Process801).

C1: After step C1 (the Watermarking Process 808),

if the metadata needed for step C2 (the Preprocessing and CompressionProcess 809) is present, then create an entry for each (product/qualitylevel) tuple and place them onto queue C2,

else flag the product as needs the metadata forPreprocessing/Compression and place this product onto queue A2 (ProductsAwaiting Action/Information Process 801).

C2: After step C2 (the Preprocessing and Compression Process 809),

if the Content Provider(s)' 101 configuration specifies Content QualityControl Process 810, then place this (product/quality level) tuple ontoqueue C3 (the Content Quality Control Process 810),

else place this (product/quality level) tuple onto queue C4 (theEncryption Process 811).

C3: After step C3 (the Content Quality Control Process 810), then placethis (product/quality level) tuple onto queue C4 (the Encryption Process811).

C4: After step C4 (the Encryption Process 811),

provide the needed information (i.e., the Symmetric Key 623 generated bythe Process and used to encipher the Content 113) to the MetadataAssimilation and Entry Tool 161.

if all the metadata that's required for the Content SC(s) 630 ispresent, then place this (product/quality level) tuple onto queue C5(the Content SC(s) Creation Process 812),

else flag the product as needs the metadata for Content SC(s) 630Packing and place this (product/quality level) tuple onto A2 (ProductsAwaiting Action/Information Process 801).

C5: After step C5 (the Content SC(s) Creation Process 812),

flag the quality level the Content 113 at this quality level has beenpacked.

if all the (product/quality level) tuples have been packed, then

if the product is flagged Metadata has been packed, then

if the Content Provider(s)' 101 configuration specifies Quality Assurethe SC(s), then place this product onto queue A3 (the Final QualityAssurance Process 813)

else place this product onto queue A4 (the Content Dispersement Process814)

else flag the product as needs the Metadata SC(s) 620 and place thisproduct onto queue A2 (Products Awaiting Action/Information Process801).

else (all the (product/quality level) tuples have not been packed) donothing (another (product/quality level) tuple triggers an action).

C. Metadata Assimilation and Entry Tool

Metadata consists of the data describing the Content 113 for example inmusic, title of the recording, artist, author/composer, producer andlength of recording. The following description is based upon Content 113being music but it should be understood by those skilled in the art thatother content types e.g., video, programs, multimedia, movies, andequivalent, are within the true scope and meaning of the presentinvention.

This Subsystem brings together the data the Content Provider(s) 101provides to the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 to help promotethe sale of the product (e.g., for music, sample clips by this artist,history of this artist, list of albums on which this recording appears,genres associated with this artist and/or product), the data the ContentProvider(s) 101 provides to the End-User(s) with the purchased product(e.g., artist, producer, album cover, track length), and the differentpurchase options (the Usage Conditions 517) the Content Provider(s) 101wants to offer the End-User(s). The data is packaged into a MetadataSC(s) 620 and made available to the Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103. To accomplish this, the following tools are provided:

Automatic Metadata Acquisition Tool

Manual Metadata Entry Tool

Usage Conditions Tool

Supervised Release Tool

These tools enable Content Provider(s) 101 to implement the processesdescribed above for Work Flow Manager 154. Tools described here are atoolkit based on Java in the preferred embodiment but other programminglanguages such as C/C++, Assembler and equivalent can be used.

1. Automatic Metadata Acquisition Tool

The Automatic Metadata Acquisition Tool provides a user the ability toimplement the Automatic Metadata Acquisition Process 803 describedabove. The Automatic Metadata Acquisition Tool is used to access theDatabase 160 of the Content Provider(s) 101 and to retrieve as much dataas possible without operator assistance. Configuration methods areavailable to automate this process. The Content Provider(s) 101 cantailor the default metadata template to identify the types of data thisContent Provider(s) 101 wants to provide to End-User(s) (e.g., composer,producer, sidemen, track length) and the types of promotional data theContent Provider(s) 101 provides to the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 (e.g., for a music example, sample clips by this artist, ahistory of this artist, the list of albums on which this recordingappears, genres associated with this artist). The default metadatatemplate includes data fields which are required by the End-UserDevice(s) 109, data fields which can be optionally provided to theEnd-User Device(s) 109 and a sample set of data fields, targeted to theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103, that promote the artist, album,and/or single.

To extract the template data fields from the Database 160 of the ContentProvider(s) 101 the Automatic Metadata Acquisition Tool uses a tablethat maps the type of data (e.g., composer, producer, a biography of theartist) to the location within the database where the data can be found.Each of the Content Provider(s) 101 help specify that mapping table fortheir environment.

The Automatic Metadata Acquisition Tool uses a metadata template of theContent Provider(s) 101 and mapping table to acquire whatever data isavailable from the Databases 160 of the Content Provider(s) 101. Thestatus of each product is updated with the result of the AutomaticMetadata Acquisition Process 803. A product which is missing anyrequired data is queued for Manual Metadata Entry Process 804, otherwiseit is available for packing into a Metadata SC(s) 620.

2. Manual Metadata Entry Tool

The Manual Metadata Entry Tool provides a user the ability to implementthe Manual Metadata Entry Process 804 described above. The ManualMetadata Entry Tool allows any properly authorized operator to providethe missing data. If the operator determines that the missing data isunavailable, the operator can attach a comment to the product andrequest supervised release. The Content Provider(s) 101 may require, forquality assurance reasons, that the product undergo supervised release.Once all the required data is present, and if supervised release has notbeen requested, then the product is-available for packing into aMetadata. SC(s) 620.

3. Usage Conditions Tool

The Usage Conditions Tool provides a user the ability to implement theUsage Conditions Process 805 described above. The process of offeringContent 113 for sale or rent (limited use), using electronic delivery,involves a series of business decisions. The Content Provider(s) 101decides at which compression level(s) the Content 113 is made available.Then for each compressed encoded version of the Content 113, one or moreusage conditions are specified. Each usage condition defines the rightsof the End-User(s), and any restrictions on the End-User(s), with regardto the use of the-Content 113.

As part of Content Processing Tool 155, a set of usage conditions(End-User(s) rights and restrictions) is attached to the product.

A usage condition defines:

1. the compression encoded version of the Content 113 to which thisusage condition applies.

2. the type of user covered by this usage condition (e.g., business,private consumer)

3. whether this usage condition allows for the purchase or the rental ofthe Content 113.

For a rental transaction:

the measurement unit which is used to limit the term of the rental(e.g., days, plays).

the number of the above units after which the Content 113 will no longerplay.

For a purchase transaction:

the number of playable copies the End-User(s) is allowed to make.

onto what kinds of media can he/she make those copies (e.g.,CD-Recordable (CD-R), MiniDisc, Personal Computer).

4. the period of time during which the purchase/rental transaction isallowed to occur (i.e., an End-User(s) can purchase/rent under the termsof this usage condition only after the beginning availability date andbefore the last date of availability).

5. the countries from which an End-User(s) can transact this purchase(or rental).

6. the price of the purchase/rental transaction under this usagecondition

7. the watermarking parameters.

8. the types of events which require notification of theClearinghouse(s) 105.

An Example of a Set of Usage Conditions

The Content Provider(s) 101 may decide to test the North Americanmarket's acceptance to the re-release of the children's song by apopular children's vocalist during the fourth quarter 1997. The testwill make the song available in two different compression encodingversions: 384 Kbps and 56 Kbps. The 384 Kbps version can be bought (andone copy made onto MiniDisc) or rented (for two weeks), while the 56Kbps version can only be bought (and no copies made). The watermarkinginstructions is the same for any purchase/rental, and the ContentProvider(s) 101 wants the Clearinghouse(s) 105 to count every copy made.This would create Usage Conditions as follows:

Usage Usage Usage Condition 1 Condition 2 Condition 3 compressed encoded384 Kbps 384 Kbs 56 Kbps version type of user private private privateconsumer consumer consumer type of transaction purchase rental purchaseavailability dates 1 Oct 1997- 1 Oct 1997- 1 Oct 1997- 31 Dec 1997 31Dec 1997 31 Dec 1997 countries USA and USA and USA and Canada CanadaCanada watermarking std. std. std. notifying events copy action nonenone number of copies 1 0 0 onto what media MiniDisc not applicable notapplicable term of rental not applicable 14 days not applicable pricePrice 1 Price 2 Price 3

4. Parts of the Metadata SC(s) 620

Below are some of the kinds of data that the Metadata Assimilation andEntry Tool 161 gathers for inclusion into the Metadata SC(s) 620. Anattempt has been made to group the data into SC(s) parts by function anddestination.

product ID [src:content provider;] [dest: everybody;] licensor labelcompany [dest: EMS; end-user;] licensee label company [dest: EMS;end-user;] source (publisher) of this object (sublicensee label [dest:everybody;] company) type of object (i.e., a single object or an arrayof objects) object ID [dest: everybody;] International StandardRecording Code (ISRC) International Standard Digital Content Number(ISMN)

usage conditions (src: content provider; dest: EMS, end-user,Clearinghouse(s) 105)

purchased usage conditions (src: EMS; dest: end-user, Clearinghouse(s)105)

the set of usage conditions (consumer restrictions and rights) for theuse of the object (sound recording)

an individual entry in the array of usage conditions

the compression encoded version of the Content 113 to which this usagecondition applies

whether this usage condition allows for the purchase or the rental ofthe Content 113

for a rental transaction:

the measurement unit which is used to limit the term of the rental(e.g., days, plays).

the number of the above units after which the Content 113 will no longerplay.

for a purchase transaction:

the number of playable copies the End-User(s) is allowed to make.

onto what kinds of media can (s)he make those copies (e.g.,CD-Recordable (CD-R), MiniDisc, personal computer).

the period of time during which the purchase/rental transaction isallowed to occur (i.e., an End-User(s) can purchase/rent under the termsof this usage condition only after the beginning availability date andbefore the last date of availability)

a pointer to the countries from which an End-User(s) can transact thispurchase (Or rental)

the price of the purchase/rental transaction under this usage condition

a pointer to the encrypted watermarking instructions and parameters

a pointer to the types of events which require notification of theClearinghouse(s) 105.

purchase data (encrypted; optional info; src: EMS; dest: end-user,Clearinghouse(s) 105)

purchase date

purchase price

bill to name and address

consumer name and address

country of the consumer (best guess)

metadata 1. (src: content provider; dest: EMS, end-user)

an array of{

copyright information

for the composition

for the sound recording

title of song

principal artist(s)

}

a pointer to {

the artwork (e.g., album cover),

the format of the artwork (e.g., GIF, JPEG);

}

optional info:

an array of additional information {

composer

publisher

producer

sidemen

date of recording

date of release

lyrics

track name (description)/track length

list of albums on which this recording appears

genre(s)

}

metadata 2 (src: content provider; dest: EMS)

an array of structures,. each representing different quality levels ofthe same sound recording {

the sound recording;

the quality level of the sound recording;

the size (in bytes) of the (probably compressed) sound recording;

}

metadata 3 (src: content provider; dest: EMS, end-user)

optional info:.

promotional material

a pointer to artist promotion material {

a URL to the artist's web site;

background description(s) of the artist(s);

artist-related interviews (along with format of the interview (e.g.,text, audio, video));

reviews (along with format of the reviews (e.g., text, audio, video));

sample clips (and its format and compression level);

recent and upcoming concerts/appearances/events—their dates andlocations;

}

a pointer to album promotion material {

sample clip (and its format and compression level);

background description(s) of the producer, and/or the composer, and/orthe movie/play/cast, and/or the making of the album, etc.;

non-artist-related interviews (along with format of the interview (e.g.,text, audio, video));

reviews (along with format of the reviews (e.g., text, audio, video));

genre(s);

}

single promotions:

sample clip (and its format and compression level)

background description(s) of the producer, and/or the composer, and/orthe movie/play/cast, and/or the making of the single, etc.

reviews (along with format of the reviews (e.g., text, audio, video))

5. Supervised Release Tool

Supervised Release Tool provides a user the ability to implement theSupervised Release Process 806 described above. An individual designatedby the Content Provider(s) 101 as having supervised release authority,may call up a product awaiting supervised release (i.e., a product onthe queue of the Supervised Release Process 806), examine its Contents113 and its accompanying comments, and either

approve its Contents 113 and release the product for packing into aMetadata SC(s) 620, or

make any necessary corrections and release the product for packing intoa Metadata SC(s) 620 or

add a comment specifying the corrective action to take and resubmit theproduct to the Manual Metadata Entry Process 704

In another embodiment, after the creation of the SC(s), there is anotheroptional quality assurance step where the Content 113 of the SC(s) canbe opened and examined for completeness and accuracy, and, at that time,final approval can be given or denied for the product's release to theretail channel.

D. Content Processing Tool

The Content Processing Tool 155 is actually a collection of softwaretools which are used to process the digital content file to createwatermarked, encoded, and encrypted copies of the content. The toolsmakes use of industry standard digital content processing tools to allowpluggable replacement of watermarking, encoding and encryptiontechnologies as they evolve. If the selected industry tool can be loadedvia a command line system call interface and passed parameters orprovides a toolkit wherein functions can be called via a DLL interface,the content processing can be automated to some degree. A front endapplication to each tool queries the appropriate queue in the ContentProcessing Tool 155 for the next available job, retrieves the requiredfiles and parameters and then loads the industry standard contentprocessing tool to perform the required function. Upon completion of thetask, manual update to the queue may be required if the tool does notreport terminating status.

1. Watermarking Tool

The Watermarking Tool provides a user the ability to implement theWatermarking Process 808 as described above. This tool applies copyrightinformation of the Content 113 owner to the song file using audioWatermarking technology. The actual information to be written out isdetermined by the Content Provider(s) 101 and the specific watermarkingtechnology selected. This information is available to the front endWatermarking Tool so that it can property pass this information to thewatermarking function. This imposes a synchronization requirement on theMetadata Assimilation and Entry Tool 161 to assure that it has acquiredthis information prior to, for example, allowing the song's audio fileto be processed. This song will not be available for audio processinguntil the watermarking information has been obtained.

The watermark is applied as the first step in audio processing since itis common to all encodings of the song created. As long as the watermarkcan survive the encoding technology; the watermarking process need onlyoccur once per song.

Various watermarking technologies are known and commercially available.The front end Watermarking Tool though is capable of supporting avariety of industry Watermarking Tools.

2. Preprocessing and Compression Tool

The Preprocessing and Compression Tool provides a user the ability toimplement the Preprocessing and Compression Process 809 as describedabove. Audio encoding involves two processes. Encoding is basically theapplication of a lossy compression algorithm against, for a musiccontent example, a PCM audio stream. The encoder can usually be tuned togenerate various playback bit stream rates based on the level of audioquality required. Higher quality results in larger file sizes and sincethe file sizes can become quite large for high quality Content 113,download times for high quality Content 113 can become lengthy andsometimes prohibitive on standard 28,800 bps modems.

The Content Provider(s) 101 may, therefore, choose to offer a variety ofdigital content qualities for download to appease both the impatient andlow bandwidth customers who don't want to wait hours for a download andthe audiophile or high bandwidth customers who either only buys highquality Content 113 or has a higher speed connection.

Compression algorithms vary in their techniques -to generate lower bitrate reproductions of Content 113. The techniques vary both by algorithm(i.e. MPEG, AC3, ATRAC) and by levels of compression. To achieve higherlevels of compression, typically the data is re-sampled at lowersampling rates prior to being delivered to the compression algorithm. Toallow for more efficient compression with less loss of fidelity or toprevent drastic dropout of some frequency ranges, the digital contentmay sometimes require adjustments to equalization levels of certainfrequencies or adjustments to the dynamic range of the recording. Thecontent preprocessing requirements are directly related to thecompression algorithm and the level of compression required. In somecases, the style of Content 113 (e.g. musical genre) can be successfullyused as a base for determining preprocessing requirements since songsfrom the same genre typically have similar dynamic ranges. With somecompression tools, these preprocessing functions are part of theencoding process. With others, the desired preprocessing is performedprior to the compression.

Besides the downloadable audio file for sale, each song also has a LowBit Rate (LBR) encoded clip to allow the song to be sampled via a LBRstreaming protocol. This LBR encoding is also the responsibility of theContent Processing Tool 155. This clip is either provided by the ContentProvider(s) 101 as a separate PCM file or as parameters of offset andlength.

As with watermarking, it is hoped that the encoding tools can be loadedvia a DLL or command line system call interface and passed all therequired parameters for preprocessing and compression. The front endEncoding Tool may have a synchronization requirement with the MetadataAssimilation and Entry Tool 161, for example if the content is music,and if it is determined that the song's genre is acquired from theDatabase 160 of the Content Provider(s) prior to performing any audiopreprocessing. This depends on the encoding tools selected and howindeterminate the genre for the song is. If the Content Provider(s) 101varies the choice of encoded quality levels per song, this informationis also be provided prior to the encoding step and agrees with themetadata being generated by the Metadata Assimilation and Entry Tool161.

A variety of high quality encoding algorithms and tools are known today.The front end Encoding Tool though is capable of supporting a variety ofindustry encoding tools.

Turning now to FIG. 12 is shown a flow diagram of one embodiment for theAutomatic Metadata Acquisition Tool of FIG. 8 according to the presentinvention. The process starts with reading an identifier from the mediathe Content Provider(s) 101 is examining. One example of content in anaudio CD embodiment. In an audio CD embodiment, the following codes maybe available Universal Price Code (UPC), International StandardRecording Code (SRC), International Standard Digital Content Number(SMN). This identifier is read in the-appropriate player for thecontent, for example an audio CD Player for audio CD, DVD player for DVDmovie, DAT recorder for DAT recording and equivalent, step 1201. Nextthis Identifier is used to index a Database 160 for the ContentProvider(s) 101, step 1202. Some or all of the information required bythe Work Flow Manager Process as described in FIG. 8 is retrieved inDatabase 160 and any other related sources, step 1203. This informationcan include the Content 113 and the metadata related to it. In step1204, the additional information retrieved is used to start the WorkFlow Manager 154 for creating electronic Content 113. It should beunderstood, that several selections of media, such as several audio CDS,can be queued up so as to enable the Automatic Metadata Acquisition Toolto create a series of Content 113 for electronic distribution. Forexample, all the Content 113 could be created from a series of CDs oreven selected tracks from one or more CDs examined by the ContentProvider(s) 101.

In an alternate embodiment, the preprocessing parameters can be retrievefrom the Database 160 of the Content Provider(s) automatically.Referring now to FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of a method to automaticallyset the Preprocessing and Compression parameters of the Preprocessingand. Compression Tool of FIG. 8 according to the present invention. Inthis embodiment the Content 113 is music. In step 1301, music (Content113) is selected to be encoded in Content Processing Tool 155. The genreof the music selected is determined, step 1302. This can be enteredmanually or by using other meta data available, such as the additionaldata retrieved from the process described in FIG. 12. The audiocompression level and audio compression algorithms selected are thanexamined, step 1303. Next, a lookup is made by genre, compressionsettings and compression algorithms of what compression parametersshould be used in the Preprocessing and Compression Process 809, 1304

3. Content Quality Control Tool

The Content Quality Control Tool provides a user the ability toimplement the Content Quality Control Process 810 as described above.This is an optional Content Processing Tool and provides an opportunityfor a quality control technician to review the encoded and watermarkedcontent files and approve or reject the content files based on qualityjudgments. He can re-encode the content making manual preprocessingadjustments until the quality is adequate or can flag the song forreprocessing and attach a note describing the problem.

This process step can be configured by the Content Provider(s) 101 as anoptional or required step of the content processing work flow. Anadditional optional Final Quality Assurance Process 813 step is providedafter packaging of all the SC(s) for this content (e.g. each SC(s) forsongs on a CD) at which time the quality of the content encoding can betested but catching a problem early prior to encryption and packagingallows for more efficient content processing. It is, therefore, highlydesirable that the content quality be assured at this step as opposed towaiting until final completion of all processing.

4. Encryption Tool

The Encryption Tool provides a user the ability to implement theEncryption Process. 811 as described above. Content encryption is thefinal step of the Content Processing Tool 155. Each of the versions ofthe content that were created by the Encoding Tool is now encrypted. Theencryption tool is a function of the SC(s) Packer. The SC(s) Packer iscalled to encrypt the song and returns the generated encryption keyused. This key is later passed into the SC(s) Packer for use in creationof the Metadata SC(s) 620.

E. Content SC(s) Creation Tool

Once all metadata has been gathered the Content SC(s) Creation Toolgroups the metadata into categories based on their intended use. Thesegroups of metadata are written into files to be passed in to the SC(s)Packer Tool as Metadata parts for the Metadata SC(s) 620. Each part(file) has unique processing requirements. Once the associated songshave been processed and encrypted and the target destination (URL ofContent Hosting Site(s) 111) has been determined, the ContentSC(s) 630for the Content 113 are ready to be created. The Content 113 which havecompleted processing and have met all the requirements described above,are queued for packing in the packer queue of the Work Flow Manager 154.

The Content SC(s) Creation Tool now retrieves all the required filescreated by the previous steps of the Metadata Assimilation and EntryTool 161 and calls the SC(s) Packer functions to create the MetadataSC(s) 620 and Content SC(s) 630. This process creates a single MetadataSC(s) 620 and multiple Content SC(s) 630 for each song. For example, ifthe content is music, each of the audio files created during audioprocessing for the various quality levels of the full song is packedinto separate Content SC(s) 630. The audio file created for the sampleclip is passed as a metadata file to be included in the Metadata SC(s)620.

F. Final Quality Assurance Tool

The Final Quality Assurance Tool provides a user the ability toimplement the Final Quality Assurance Process 813 as described above.Once all the SC(s) have been built for a content file, the content isavailable for a final quality assurance check. Quality assurance can beperformed at various stages of the Content 113 preparation process. TheContent Provider(s) 101 can choose to perform quality assurance as eachmajor step is completed to prevent excessive rework later or may chooseto wait until all audio preparation processes are complete and performquality assurance on everything at once. If the latter is chosen,quality assurance is performed at this point upon completion of thecreation of the SC(s). This tool allows each SC(s) for the song to beopened, examined, and the audio played.

Any problem discovered, even minor text changes requires that the SC(s)be rebuilt due to internal security features of SC(s). To avoidunnecessary re-processing time, it is highly recommended that theinterim quality assurance steps be utilized to assure accuracy of themetadata and that this specific quality assurance step be reserved forvalidating appropriate cross references between the SC(s) associatedwith this song. If problems are found, the assurer can enter a problemdescription to be attached to the song and have it re-queued to theappropriate processing queue for reprocessing. Status is updatedappropriately in the Work Flow Manager 154 to indicate the status of allrelated components of the song. If no problems are discovered, theContent 113 is marked or flagged as ready for release.

G. Content Dispersement Tool

The Content Dispersement Tool provides a user the ability to implementthe Content Dispersement Process 814 as described above. Once theContent 113 has been approved for release, the SC(s) for the Content 113are placed in the queue of the Content Dispersement Process. The ContentDispersement Tool monitors the queue and performs immediate transfer ofthe SC(s) files or batch transfer of a group of SC(s) files based on theconfiguration settings provided by the Content Provider(s) 101. TheContent Provider(s) 101 can also optionally configure the ContentDispersement Tool to automatically hold all SC(s) in this queue untilthey are manually flagged for release. This allows the ContentProvider(s) 101 to prepare content in advance of their scheduled releasedate and hold them until they wish to release them e.g., a new song,movie or game. The SC(s) can also control access to Content 113 based ona defined release date so there is no requirement for the ContentProvider(s) 101 to actually hold up delivery of the SC(s) but thismanual release option can still be used for this purpose or used tomanage network bandwidth required to transfer these large files.

When flagged for release, the Content SC(s) 630 for the Content 113 aretransferred via FTP to the designated Content Hosting Site(s) 111. TheMetadata SC(s) 620 is transferred via FTP to the Content Promotions WebSite 156. Here the SC(s) are staged to a new Content 113 directory untilthey can be processed and integrated into the Content Promotions WebSite 156.

H. Content Promotions Web Site

To most effectively disperse information on what the Content Provider(s)101 is making available for sale via digital download, and to get thenecessary files to the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 to enableit to make this Content 113 available for download to its customers,each Content Provider(s) 101 should have a secure web site housing thisinformation. This is similar to the method used today by some ContentProvider(s) 101 to make promotional content available to their retailersand others with a need for this information. In the case where this ofservice already exists, an additional section can be added to the website where Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 can go to see a listof the content available for sale via download.

The Content Provider(s) 101 has complete control over the design andlayout of this site or can choose to use a turnkey web server solutionprovided as part of the toolkit for Secure Digital Content ElectronicDistribution System 100. To implement their own design for this service,the Content Provider(s) 101 need only provide links to the MetadataSC(s) 620 for Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 who access theirsite. This is accomplished using the toolkit for the Secure DigitalContent Electronic Distribution System 100. The selection process andwhat information is shown is the discretion of the Content Provider(s),101.

Metadata SC(s) 620 received into a new content directory via FTP fromthe Content Dispersement Tool is processed by the Content Promotions WebSite 156. These containers can be opened with the SC(s) Preview Tool todisplay or extract information from the container. This information canthen be used to update HTML Web pages and/or add information to asearchable database maintained by this service. The SC(s) Preview Toolis actually a subset of the Content Acquisition Tool used by theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 to open and process MetadataSC(s) 620. See the Content Acquisition Tool section for more details.The Metadata SC(s) 620 file should then be moved to a permanentdirectory maintained by the Content Promotions Web Site 156.

Once the Metadata SC(s) 620 has been integrated into the ContentPromotions Web Site 156, its availability is publicized. The ContentProvider(s) 101 can send a notification to all subscribing ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 as each new Metadata SC(s) 620 is added tothe site or can perform a single notification daily (or any definedperiodicity) of all Metadata SC(s) 620 added that day (or period). Thisnotification is performed via a standard HTUP exchange with theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 Web Server by sending a definedCGI string containing parameters referencing the Metadata SC(s) 620added. This message is handled by the Notification Interface Module ofthe Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 which is described later.

I. Content Hosting

The Entertainment Industry produces thousands of content titles, such asCDS, movies and games every year, adding to the tens of thousands ofcontent titles that are currently available. The Secure Digital ContentElectronic Distribution System 100 is designed to support all of thecontent titles available in stores today.

The numbers of content titles that the Secure Digital Content ElectronicDistribution System 100 may eventually download to customers on a dailybasis is in the thousands or tens of thousands. For a large number oftitles, this requires a large amount of bandwidth. The computer diskspace and bandwidth needs call for a distributed, scalableimplementation with multiple Content Hosting Site(s) 111. The systemalso supports customers all over the world. This requires overseas sitesto speed delivery to the global customers;

Content hosting on the Secure Digital Content Electronic DistributionSystem 100 is designed to allow the Content Provider(s) 101 to eitherhost their own Content 113 or share a common facility or a set offacilities.

Content hosting on the Secure Digital Content Electronic DistributionSystem 100 consists of multiple Content Hosting Site(s) 111 thatcollectively contain all of the Content 113 offered by the SecureDigital Content Electronic Distribution System 100 and several SecondaryContent Sites (not shown) that contain the current hot hits offered bythe Content Provider(s) 101. The number of Content Hosting Site(s) 111changes depending on the number of End-User(s) using the system. TheSecondary Content sites host a limited number of songs, but they willrepresent a large percentage of the bandwidth used on the system. Thesecondary sites are brought on line as the volume on the primary sitesincreases to the point of maximum capacity. The secondary sites can belocated close to Network Access Points (NAPs) which helps speed updownload times. They may also be placed in different geographic areasaround the world to speed up download times.

Should the Content Provider(s) 101 choose to host all of their Content113 in their own system, they can act as a single Content Hosting Site111 with or without additional Secondary Content Sites. This allows themto build their own scalable distributed system. In another embodiment,Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103. can also act as Content HostingSite(s) 111 for certain Content 113. This embodiment requires a specialfinancial agreement between the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103and the Content Provider(s) 101.

1. Content Hosting Sites

Content 113 is added to the Content Hosting Site(s) 111 via FTP by theContent Disbursement Tool described in the Content Provider(s) Sectionof this specification. The Metadata SC(s) 620 created by the ContentProvider(s) 101 contain a field that indicates the URL locating theContent SC(s) 630 for this Content 113. This URL corresponds to aContent Hosting Site(s) 111. Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 canoverride this URL if allowed by the Content Provider(s) 101 in the OfferSC(s) 641. The End-User Device(s) 109 communicates to this ContentHosting Site(s) 111 when it wants to download the Content SC(s) 630.

The End-User Device(s) 109 initiates the request for a Content SC(s) 630by sending the License SC(s) 660 to the Content Hosting Site(s) 111.This is the same License SC(s) 660 returned by the Clearinghouse(s) 105.The Digital Signature of the License SC(s) 660 can be verified todetermine if it is a valid License SC(s) 660. If it is a valid LicenseSC(s) 660 either the download is initiated, or the download request maybe redirected to another Content Hosting Site(s) 111.

2. Content Hosting Site(s) 111 provided by the Secure Digital ContentElectronic Distribution System 100

For the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100 thedecision of which site should be used to download the Content 113 ismade by the primary content site that received the initial request for aContent SC(s) 630. This site uses the following information to make thisdecision:

Are there secondary content sites that host the Content 113 requested?(The majority of Content 113 offered by the Secure Digital ContentElectronic Distribution System 100 is only located at primary sites);

Where is the End-User Device(s) 109 geographically located? (Thisinformation can be obtained from the End-User Device(s) 109 when therequest is initiated at the End-User Device(s) 109, this is passed up tothe Clearinghouse(s) 105 in the Order SC(s) 650;

Is the appropriate secondary site up and operational? (Sometimes thesecondary sites may be off-line);

What is the load of the secondary sites? (In some cases where asecondary site is swamped with activity another site that is less busymay be selected.

Before transmitting the Content SC(s) 630 to the End-User Device(s) 109,analysis and verifications are performed on the End-User's request. Adatabase is kept of all of the License SC IDs that have been used todownload Content 113. This database can be checked to ensure that theEnd-User Device(s) 109 only makes one request for each piece of Content113 purchased. This prevents malicious users from repeatedly accessingthe Content Hosting Site(s) 111 in hopes of slowing down the ContentHosting Site(s) 111 and prevents unauthorized download of the ContentSC(s) 630.

The promotion and demotion of Content 113 to the Secondary Content sitesis done periodically based on customer demand for the individual piecesof Content 113.

Content Hosting Router

The Content Hosting Router(not shown) resides in the Content HostingSite(s) 111 and receives all requests from End-User(s) wanting todownload Content 113. It performs validation checks on the End-User(s)request to ensure they indeed bought the Content 113. A database ismaintained on the status of the Secondary Content Sites that includeswhat Content 113 is on them and there current status. This currentstatus includes the amount of activity on the sites and whether a siteis down for maintenance.

The only interface to the Content Hosting Router is the License SC(s)660 that is sent by the End-User Device(s) 109 when Content 113 isrequired to be downloaded. The License SC(s) 660 includes informationthat indicates the user is allowed to download the Content 113.

Secondary Content Sites

The Secondary Content Sites (not shown) host the popular Content 113 ofthe Secure Digital Content Distribution System 100. These sites aregeographically dispersed across the world and are located near NetworkAccess Points (NAPs) to improve download times. These sites are added tothe system as demand on the primary Content Hosting Site(s) 111 nearsmaximum capacity.

IX. ELECTRONIC DIGITAL CONTENT STORE(S)

A. Overview—Support for Multiple Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103

Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 are essentially the retailers.They are the entities who market the Content 113 to be distributed tothe customer. For distribution of Content 113, this would includeDigital Content Retailing Web Sites, Digital Content Retail Stores, orany business who wishes to get involved in marketing electronic Content113 to consumers. These businesses can market the sale of electronicContent 113 only or can choose to just add the sale of electronic goodsto whatever other merchandise they currently offer for sale.Introduction of downloadable electronic goods into the service offeringof the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 is accomplished via a setof tools developed for the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 aspart of the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100.

These tools are used by the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 to:

acquire the Metadata SC(s) 620 packaged by the Content Provider(s) 101

extract Content 113 from these SC(s) to be used as input to buildingtheir service offering

create Offer SC(s) 641 describing the downloadable Content 113 they areoffering for sale

handle the acknowledgment of the sale and initiation of the download bycreating and sending Transaction SC(s) 640 to the End-User Device(s) 109

manage a transaction log of sales of downloadable Content 113 and thestatus of each download

handle status notifications and transaction authentication requests

perform account reconciliation

The tools are designed to allow flexibility in how the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 wishes to integrate sale of downloadableelectronic Content 113 into its service. The tools can be used in such away as to request that all financial settlements for downloadableContent 113 purchased be handled by the Clearinghouse(s) 105 althoughthis is not required. These tools also enable Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 to completely service their customers and handle thefinancial transactions themselves, including providing promotions andspecial offers. The tools enable the Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103 to quickly integrate the sale of downloadable Content 113 into itsexisting services. In addition, the Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103 is not required to host the downloadable Content 113 and does nothave to manage its dispersement. This function is performed by theContent Hosting Site(s) 111 selected by the Content Provider(s) 101.

Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 are not limited to Web basedservice offerings. The tools provided are used by all Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 wishing to sell downloadable electronic Content 113regardless of the transmission infrastructure or delivery mode used todeliver this Content 113 to End-User(s). Broadcast services offered oversatellite and cable infrastructures is also use these same tools toacquire, package, and track electronic Content 113 sales. Thepresentation of electronic merchandise for sale and the method in whichthese offers are delivered to the End-User(s) is the main variantbetween the broadcast based service offering and the point-to-pointinteractive web service type offering.

B. Point-to-Point Electronic Digital Content Distribution Service

Point-to-Point primarily means a one-to-one interactive service betweenthe Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 and the End-User Device(s)109. This typically represents an Internet web based service, providedvia telephone or cable modem connection. Networks other than theInternet are supported in this model as well, as long as they conform tothe Web Server/Client Browser model. FIG. 9 is a block diagramillustrating the major tools, components and processes of an ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103.

1. Integration Requirements

The Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100 is usednot only create new online businesses but provides a method for existingbusinesses to integrate the sale of downloadable electronic Content 113to their current inventory. The suite of tools provided to theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 simplify this integrationeffort. The Content Acquisition Tool 171 and SC(s) Packer Tool 153provides a method for the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103. toacquire information from the participating Content Provider(s) 101 onwhat they have available for sale and to create the files required toreference these downloadable objects as items in their own inventory.This process is batch driven and can be largely automated and isexecuted only to integrate new Content 113 into the site.

The tools for the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution havebeen designed to allow integration of sale of electronic downloadableContent 113 into typical implementations of web based Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 (i.e. Columbia House online, Digital ContentBoulevard, @Tower) and equivalent with minimal change to their currentContent 113 retailing paradigm. Several methods of integration arepossible and in the preferred embodiment, the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 provides support for all product searches, previews,selections (shopping cart), and purchases. Each Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 establishes customer loyalty with its customers andcontinues to offer its own incentives and market its products as it doestoday. In the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100,it would simply need to indicate which products in its inventory arealso available for electronic download and allow its customers to selectthe electronic download option when making a purchase selection. Inanother embodiment the customer's shopping cart could contain a mixtureof electronic (Content 113) and, physical media selections. After thecustomer checks out, and the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 hascompleted, the financial settlement and logged or notified its shippingand handling functions to process the physical merchandise purchased,the commerce handling function of the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 then calls the Transaction Processor Module 175 to handleall electronic downloads. It simply passes the required information andall processing from that point on is handled by the toolset for theSecure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System 100. In anotherembodiment, other methods of transaction handling are also possibleusing tools for the Secure Digital Content Electronic DistributionSystem 100 to handle the financial settlement should the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 wish to sell downloadable merchandise onlyor to segregate the financial settlement of physical and downloadablemerchandise.

To handle the downloading of merchandise, the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 is given a Product ID (not shown) for each downloadableproduct that it acquires from the Content Promotions Web Site 156 forthe Content Provider(s) 101. This Product ID is associated to acustomer's purchase selection to the downloadable product. The ProductID is what the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 passes to theTransaction Processor Module 175 to identify the product that the userhas purchased. The SC(s) (Offer SC(s) 641) that were created to describethe products, are isolated from the Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103 and kept in an Offer Database 181 in an effort to simplifymanagement of these objects and make their existence transparent to theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103.

The Transaction Processor Module 175 and other additional functions areprovided as web server side executables (i.e. CGI and NSAPI, ISAPIcallable functions). These functions handle run time processing forEnd-User(s) interactions and optional interactions with theClearinghouse(s) 105. These functions interact with the web server'scommerce services to create and download to the End-User Device(s) 109the files necessary to initiate the Content 113 download process. Theyalso handle optional interactions to provide authorizations and acceptnotifications of completion of activities.

An Accounting Reconciliation Tool 179 is also provided to assist theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 in contacting theClearinghouse(s) 105 to reconcile accounts based on its own and thetransaction logs of the Clearinghouse(s) 105.

2. Content Acquisition Tool 171

The Content Acquisition Tool 171 is responsible for interfacing with theContent Promotions Web Site 156 to preview and download Metadata SC(s)620. Since the Content Promotions site is a standard web site, a webbrowser is used by the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 tonavigate this site. The navigation features varies based on the sitedesign of the Content Provider(s) 101. Some sites may provide extensivesearch capabilities with many screens of promotional information. Othersmay have a simple browser interface with lists of titles, performers ornew releases to select from. All sites include the selection of MetadataSC(s) 620 containing all the promotional and descriptive information ofa song, or album.

Viewing Metadata

The Content Acquisition Tool 171 is a web browser helper applicationwhich launches whenever a Metadata SC(s) 620 link is selected at theContent Promotions Web Site 156. Selection of the SC(s) causes it to bedownloaded to the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103, and launchthe helper application. The Content Acquisition Tool 171 opens theMetadata SC(s) 620 and display the non-encrypted information containedtherein. Displayed information includes Extracted Metadata 173, for amusic example, the graphic image(s) associated with the song and theinformation describing the song, a preview clip of the song can also belistened to if included in the Metadata SC(s) 620. In an example wherethe. Content 113 is music, promotional, information about the song, thealbum it is from, and the artist is also shown if provided by theContent Provider(s) 101. This information is displayed as a series oflinked HTML pages in the browser window. Purchasable Content, 113 suchas the song and the lyrics and whatever other metadata the ContentProvider(s) 101 wishes to protect, is not accessible to the RetailContent Web Site 180.

In another embodiment, the Content Provider(s) 101 provides optionalpromotional content for a fee. In this embodiment such promotionalcontent is encrypted in the Metadata SC(s) 620. Financial settlement toopen this data can be handled via the Clearinghouse(s) 105 with theaccount for the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 being chargedthe designated fee.

Extracting Metadata

Besides the preview capabilities, this tool provides two additionalfeatures: metadata extraction and preparation of an Offer SC(s) 641.Selection of the metadata extraction option prompts the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 to enter the path and filenames to wherethe metadata is to be stored. Binary metadata such as graphics and theaudio preview clip is stored as separate files. Text metadata is storedin an ASCII delimited text file which the Retail Content Web Site 180can then import into its database. A table describing the layout of theASCII delimited file is also be created, in a separate TOC file.Additional options is available to allow extraction into other NationalLanguage Support (NLS) supported formats.

One important piece of information provided in the extracted data is theProduct ID. This Product ID is what the commerce handling function forthe Electronic Digital-Content Store(s) 103 needs to identify to theTransaction Processor Module 175 (for more information refer toTransaction Processing section), the Content 113 that the user haspurchased. The Transaction Processor Module 175 uses this Product ID toproperly retrieve the appropriate Offer SC(s) 641 from the OfferDatabase 181 for subsequent download to the End-User Device(s) 109. TheElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 has full control over how itpresents the offer of downloadable Content 113 on its site. It onlyneeds to retain a cross reference of the Content 113 being offered tothis Product ID to properly interface with the tools for the SecureDigital Content Electronic Distribution System 100. Providing thisinformation here, allows the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 tointegrate this product or Content 113 into its inventory and sales pages(database) in parallel with the Offer SC(s) 641 creation process sinceboth processes uses the same Product ID to reference the product This isdescribed further below.

Offer SC(s) Creation Packer 153

The Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 is required to create anOffer SC(s) 641 describing the downloadable Content 113 that is forsale. Most of the information that goes into the Offer SC(s) 641 isderived from the Metadata SC(s) 620. The Content Acquisition Tool 171creates the Offer SC(s) 641 by:

removing parts from the Metadata SC(s) 620 that are not required to beincluded in the Offer SC(s) 641 as defined by the Offer SC(s) Templatein the Metadata SC(s) 620

adding additional required parts as defined by defaults specified by theconfiguration options in this tool for the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103

prompting for additional required inputs or selections as defined by theOffer SC(s) Template in the Metadata SC(s) 620

calling the SC(s) Packer 153 to pack this information into the SC(s)format

Metadata to be displayed by the Player Application 195 (furtherdescribed later) on the End-User Device(s) 109 is kept in the MetadataSC(s) 620. Other promotional metadata that was only used by theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 as input to his web servicedatabase is removed from the Metadata SC(s) 620. Rights managementinformation provided by the Content Provider(s) 101, such aswatermarking instructions, encrypted Symmetric Keys 623, and UsageConditions 517 defining the permitted uses of the object, are alsoretained.

This stripped down Metadata SC(s) 620 is then included in the OfferSC(s) 641. The Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 also attaches itsown Usage Conditions called Store Usage Conditions 519 or purchaseoptions to the Offer SC(s) 641. This can be accomplished interactivelyor automatically through a set of defaults. If configured to beprocessed interactively, the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 isprompted with the set of permitted object Usage Conditions 517 asdefined by the Content Provider(s) 101. He then selects the option(s) hewishes to offer to his customers. These now become the new UsageConditions or Store Usage Conditions 519. To process automatically, theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 configures a set of defaultpurchase options to be offered for all Content 113. These defaultoptions are automatically checked against the permitted Usage Conditions517 defined by the Content Provider(s) 101 and is set in the Offer SC(s)641 if there are no discrepancies.

Once the Offer SC(s) 641 is created, it is stored in an Offer Database181 and is indexed with the Product ID pre-assigned in the MetadataSC(s) 620. This Product ID is used later by the Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 to identify the downloadable Content 113 beingpurchased by a customer when interfacing with the Offer Database 181 toretrieve the Offer SC(s) 641 for packaging and transmittal to theEnd-User(s). See the Transaction Processor Module 175 section for moredetails.

In another embodiment, the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 hoststhe Content SC(s) 641 at his site. This embodiment requires changes tothe Offer SC(s) 641 such as the replacement of the URL of the ContentHosting Site(s) 111 with the URL of the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103.

3. Transaction Processing Module 175

Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 directs billing toClearinghouse(s) 105. There are two basic modes for processingEnd-User(s) purchase requests for downloadable Content 113. If theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 does not wish to handle thefinancial settlement of the purchase and has no special promotions orincentives governing the sale of the merchandise and does not use ashopping cart metaphor for batching the purchase requests, it may opt toprovide links on its Content 113 download pages directly to the OfferSC(s) 641 files. These Offer SC(s) 641 would have to have been builtwith retail pricing information included in the metadata. Also includedin the Offer SC(s) 641 is a special HTML offer page presenting thepurchase options with terms and conditions of the sale. This page isbuilt from a template created when the Offer SC(s) 641 was built. Whenthe End-User(s) clicks on the direct link to the Offer SC(s) 641, theOffer SC(s) 641 is downloaded to the browser End-User Device(s) 109launching a helper application which opens the container and present theoffer page included in the Offer SC(s) 641. This page contains a form tocollect customer information including credit card information andpurchase option selection. The form then gets submitted directly to theClearinghouse(s) 105 for financial settlement and processing.Optionally, this form may contain the fields needed to use theEnd-User(s)' credit information or industry standard local transactionhandler.

An embodiment where the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 handlesbilling is now described. The more typical mode of handling purchaserequests is to allow the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 toprocess the financial settlement and then submit the downloadauthorization to the End-User(s). This method allows the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 to integrate sale of downloadable Content113 with other merchandise offered for sale at his site, allows batchprocessing of purchase requests with only one consolidated charge to thecustomer (via a shopping cart metaphor) instead of individual chargesfor each download request, and allows the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 to directly track his customers buying patterns and offerspecial promotions and club options. In this environment, the offer ofdownloadable Content 113 is included in his shopping pages which getadded to a shopping cart when selected by the End-User(s) and getprocessed and financially settled as is done in the Electronic DigitalContent Store(s)' 103 current shopping model. Once the financialsettlement is completed, the commerce handling process of the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 100 then calls the Transaction Processor Module175 to complete the transaction.

Transaction Processor Module 175

The role of the Transaction Processor Module 175 is to put together theinformation needed by the End-User Device(s) 109 to initiate and processthe download of the Content 113 purchased. This information is packagedinto a Transaction SC(s) 640 which is sent back to the End-UserDevice(s) 109 by the Web Server as the response to the purchasesubmission. The Transaction Processor Module 175 requires three piecesof information from the commerce handling process of the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103: the Product IDs for the Content 113purchased, Transaction Data 642, and an HTML page acknowledging thepurchase settlement.

The Product ID is the value provided to the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 in the Metadata SC(s) 620 associated to the Content 113just sold. This Product ID is used to retrieve the associated OfferSC(s) 641 from the Offer Database 181.

The Transaction Data 642 is a structure of information provided by thetransaction processing function of the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 which is later used to correlate the Clearinghouse(s) 105processing with the financial settlement transaction performed by theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 and to provide user identityinformation to be included in the watermark of the Content 113downloaded to the End-User Device(s) 109. When the Clearinghouse(s) 105receives a valid Order SC(s) 650, it logs a transaction indicating theContent 113 that was sold, which Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103sold it and the associated Transaction Data 642 including the End-User'sName and a Transaction ID 535. The Transaction ID 535 provides areference to the financial settlement transaction. This information islater returned by the Clearinghouse(s) 105 to the Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 for use in reconciling its accounts with thebilling statements received from the Content Provider(s) 101 (or hisagent). The Clearinghouse Transaction Log 178 can be used by the ContentProvider(s) 101 to determine what Content 113 of his has been sold andenables him to create a bill to each Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103 for royalties owed him. Other electronic means besides billing canalternatively be used to settle accounts between the Content Provider(s)101 and Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103.

The information provided in the Transaction SC(s) 640 and the securityand integrity of the Transaction SC(s) 640 provide sufficientauthenticity to the Clearinghouse(s) 105 that the purchase transactionis valid and thus no further validation is required prior to the loggingof this sale by the Clearinghouse(s) 105. The Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103, however, has the option to request authentication beforeits accounts are charged (transaction logged at the Clearinghouse(s) 105indicating to the Content Provider(s) 101 that this Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 has collected money for the sale of this Content113). This request for authentication/notification is indicated by aflag in the Transaction Data 642. In this scenario, the Clearinghouse(s)105 contacts the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 and receiveauthorization from the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 beforethe charge to his account and the release of the encryption Key 623. TheTransaction ID 535 is passed to the Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103 from the Clearinghouse(s) 105 as part of this authentication requestto enable the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 to associate thisrequest to a prior transaction performed with the End-User(s). ThisTransaction ID 535 can be any unique value the Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 wishes to use and is solely for its benefit.

The Transaction Data 642 also contains a customer name. This name can befrom the user name field of the purchase form filled out by the userwhen making his purchase, or from information logged previously duringsome user registration process with the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103, or the official name obtained from credit card informationassociated with the card used in this transaction. This name is laterincluded in the License Watermark 527.

The Transaction Data 642 also contains the Store Usage Conditions 519purchased by the End-User(s). This information is included in theLicense Watermark 527 and used by the End-User Device(s) 109 in Copy andPlay Control.

The final parameter required by the Transaction Processor Module 175 isthe HTML page acknowledging the purchase settlement. The purpose of thisis to allow the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 to respond tothe End-User(s) with an acknowledgment of the financial settlement andwhatever other information he wishes to include in the response. ThisHTML page is included in the Transaction SC(s) 640 and is displayed inthe browser window of the End-User Device(s) 109 when the TransactionSC(s) 640 is received and processed.

The Transaction SC(s) 640 is the HTTP response to the End-User(s) fromthe Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 after processing thepurchase submission. Sending a SC(s) as the direct HTFP response forcesthe automatic loading on the End-User Device(s) 109 of a SC(s) ProcessorHelper Application thus allowing automatic completion of the transactionwithout depending on further End-User(s) initiated actions. This processis described in more detail in the End-User Device(s) 109 and PlayerApplication 195 section later.

When the Transaction Processor Module 175 is called with the requiredparameters, it builds a Transaction SC(s) 640 containing the TransactionData 642, the transaction acknowledgment HTML page, other requiredsecurity features of the SC(s), and retrieves and imbeds the Offer SC(s)641 associated with the purchase. It also logs information about thistransaction for later use by the Notification Interface. Module 176 andthe Account Reconciliation Tool 179.

4. Notification Interface Module 176

The Notification Interface Module 176 is a Web Server side executableroutine (CGI or function callable by NSAPI, ISAPI or equivalent). Ithandles optional requests and notifications from the Clearinghouse(s)105, the End-User Device(s) 109, the Content Hosting Site(s) 111, andthe Content Provider(s) 101. The events that the Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 can optionally request notification for are:

Notification from the Clearinghouse(s) 105 that the End-User Device(s)109 requesting an encryption Key 623 and the Clearinghouse(s) 105 isreleasing the encryption Key. 623 for three specified Content 113. Thisnotification can optionally be configured to require authentication fromthe Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 prior to the encryption Key623 being sent to the End-User Device(s) 109.

Notification from the Content Hosting Site(s) 111 that the Content SC(s)630 has been sent to the End-User Device(s) 109.

Notification from the End-User Device(s) 109 that the Content SC(s) 630and the License SC(s) 660 have been received and successfully used toprocess the Content 113 or was found to be corrupt.

Notification from the Content Provider(s) 101 that new Content 113 hasbeen placed in the Content Promotions Web Site 156.

None of these notifications are a required step in the Secure DigitalContent Electronic Distribution System flows 100 but are provided asoptions to allow the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 theopportunity to close its records on the satisfaction of completion ofthe sale. It also provides information that may be needed to handlecustomer service requests by letting the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 know what functions have transpired since financialsettlement of the transaction or what errors occurred during an attemptto complete the sale.

Frequency of notification of new Content 113 available at the ContentPromotions Web Site 156 is determined by the Content Provider(s) 101.Notification may be provided as each new Metadata SC(s) 620 is added orjust daily with all new Metadata SC(s) 620 added that day.

All of these notifications result in entries being made to theTransaction Log 178. If the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103wishes to perform his own processing on these notifications, he canintercept the CGI call, perform his unique function and then optionallypass the request on to the Notification Interface Module 176.

5. Account Reconciliation Tool 179

This Account Reconciliation Tool 179 contacts the Clearinghouse(s) 105to compare the Transaction Log 178 with the log of the Clearinghouse(s)105. This is an optional process which is available to help theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 feel comfortable with theaccounting for the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System100.

In another embodiment, this tool can be updated to provide electronicfunds transfers for automated periodic payments to the ContentProvider(s) 101 and the Clearinghouse(s) 105. It can also be designed toautomatically process payments upon reception of an electronic bill fromthe Clearinghouse(s) 105 after reconciling the bill against theTransaction Log 178.

C. Broadcast Electronic Digital Content Distribution Service

Broadcast primarily refers to a one to many transmission method wherethere is no personal interaction between the End-User Device(s) 109 andthe Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 to customize on-demandviewing and listening. This is typically provided over a digitalsatellite or cable infrastructure where the Content 113 is preprogrammedso that all End-User Device(s) 109 receive the same stream.

A hybrid model can also be defined such that an Electronic DigitalContent-Store(s) 103 provides a digital content service organized insuch a way that it can offer both a web distribution interface via anInternet connection as well as a higher bandwidth satellite or cabledistribution interface via a broadcast service, with a great deal ofcommonality to the site design. If the IRD backchannel serial interfacewere connected to the web, and the IRD supported web navigation, theEnd-User(s) could navigate the digital content service in the usual wayvia the backchannel Internet interface, previewing and selecting Content113 to purchase. The user can select high quality downloadable Content113, purchase these selections, and receive the required License SC(s)660 all via an Internet connection and then request delivery of theContent 113 (Content SC(s) 630) over the higher bandwidth broadcastinterface. The Web service can indicate which Content 113 would beavailable for download in this manner based on the broadcast schedule orcould build the broadcast streams based totally on purchased Content113. This method would allow a Web based digital content service tocontract with a broadcast facility to deliver high quality Content 113to users equipped with the proper equipment making a limited number ofspecific Content 113 (e.g. songs or CDS) available daily in this mannerand the entire catalog available for download in lower quality via theweb interface.

Other broadcast models can be designed where there is no web interfaceto the End-User Device(s) 109. In this model, promotional content ispackaged in specially formatted digital streams for broadcast deliveryto the End-User Device(s) 109 (i.e. IRD) where special processing isperformed to decode the streams and present the End-User(s) with thepromotional content from which purchase selections can be made.

The actual purchase selections would still be initiated via backchannelcommunications from the End-User Device(s) 109 to the Clearinghouse(s)105 and would utilize SC(s) to perform all data exchange. The toolsetprovided to the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 has beenarchitected and developed in such a way that most of the tools apply toboth a point-to-point Internet service offering as well as a broadcastsatellite or cable offering. The tools used by a Digital Content WebSite Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 to acquire and manageContent 113 as well as prepare SC(s) is also used by a satellite basedElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 to manage and prepare Content113 for distribution on a broadcast infrastructure. The SC(s)distributed over a Web service are the same as those distributed over abroadcast service.

X. END-USER DEVICE(S) 109

The applications in the End-User Device(s) 109 for the Secure DigitalContent Electronic Distribution System 100 perform two main functions:first the SC(s) processing and copy control; and second playback ofencrypted Content 113. Whether the End-User Device(s) 109 is a PersonalComputer or a specialized electronic consumer device, it has to becapable of performing these base functions. The End-User Device(s) 109also provides a variety of additional features and functions likecreating play lists, managing the digital content library, displayinginformation and images during content playback, and recording toexternal media devices. These functions varies based on the servicethese applications are supporting and the type of device theapplications are designed for.

A. Overview

Referring now to FIG. 10, shown is the major components and processes anEnd-User Device(s) 109 Functional Flow. The applications designed tosupport a PC based web interface Content 113 service consists of twoexecutable software applications: the SC(s) Processor 192 and the PlayerApplication 195. The SC(s) Processor 192 is an executable applicationwhich is configured as a Helper Application into the End-User(s) WebBrowser 191 to handle SC(s) File/MIME Types. This application islaunched by the Browser whenever SC(s) are received from the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103, the Clearinghouse(s) 105, and the ContentHosting Site(s) 111. It is responsible for performing all requiredprocessing of the SC(s) and eventually adding Content 113 to the DigitalContent Library 196 of the End-User(s).

The Player Application 195 is a stand alone executable application whichthe End-User(s) loads to perform Content 113 in his Digital ContentLibrary 196, manage his Digital Content Library 196 and create copies ofthe Content 113 if permitted. Java, C/C++ or any equivalent software.

The searching and browsing of Content 113 information, previewing of,for example, song clips, and selecting songs for purchase is all handledvia the End-User(s) Web Browser 191. Electronic Digital Content Store(s)103 provides the shopping experience in the same way that is offeredtoday by many Content 113 retailing web sites. The difference to theEnd-User(s) over today's web based Content 113 shopping is that they maynow select downloadable Content 113 objects to be added to theirshopping cart. If the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 has othermerchandise available for sale in addition to the downloadable objects,the End-User(s) may have a combination of physical and electronicdownloadable merchandise in his shopping cart. The Secure DigitalContent Electronic Distribution End-User Device(s) 109 are not involveduntil after the End-User(s) checks out and submits his final purchaseauthorization to the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103. Prior tothis point, all interaction is between the Web Server for the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 and the Browser 191 on the End-UserDevice(s) 109. This includes preview of sample Digital Content clips.Digital Content clips are not packaged into SC(s) but instead areintegrated into the web service of the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 as downloadable files or fed from a streaming server. Theformat of the Content 113 clip is not dictated by the systemarchitecture.

B. Application Installation

The Player Application 195 and the Helper Application 198 are packagedinto a self installing executable program which is available fordownload from many web sites. The Clearinghouse(s) 105 acts as a centrallocation which hosts the master download page at a public web site. Itcontains links to the locations from which the installation package canbe downloaded. The installation package is available at all ContentHosting Site(s) 111 to provide geographic dispersal of the downloadrequests. Each participating Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 canalso make the package available for download from their site or may justprovide a link to the master download page at the public web site of theClearinghouse(s) 105.

Any End-User(s) wishing to purchase downloadable Content 113 downloadsand install this package. The installation is self contained in thisdownloadable package. It unpacks and installs both the HelperApplication 198 and the Player Application 195 and also configure theHelper Application 198 to the installed Web Browser(s).

As part of the installation, a Public/Private Key 661 pair is createdfor the End-User Device(s) 109 for use in processing Order and LicenseSC(s) 660. A random Symmetric Key (Secret User Key) is also generatedfor use in protecting song encryption keys in the License Database 197.The Secret User Key (not shown) is protected by breaking the key intomultiple parts and storing pieces of the key in multiple locationsthroughout the End-User(s)' computer. This area of the code is protectedwith Tamper Resistant Software technology so as not to divulge how thekey is segmented and where it is stored. Preventing access to this keyby even the End-User(s) helps to prevent piracy or sharing of theContent 113 with other computers. See the SC(s) Processor 192 sectionfor more details on how these keys are used.

Tamper-resistant software technology is a method to deter unauthorizedentry into a computer software application by a hacker. Typically ahacker wants to understand and/or modify the software to remove therestrictions on the usage. In practicality, no computer program existsthat cannot be hacked; that is why tamper-resistant software is notcalled “tamper-proof”. But the amount of effort required to hack atamper-resistance protect application usually deters most hackersbecause the effort is not worth the possible gain. Here the effort wouldbe to gain access to a key to one piece of Content 113, perhaps a singlesong on a CD.

One type of tamper-resistant software technology is from IBM. Oneproduct this code was introduced is in the IBM ThinkPad 770 laptopcomputer. Here, the tamper-resistant software was used to protect theDVD movie player in the computer. Digital Content Provider(s) such asHollywood studios, concerned about the advent of digital movies and theease with perfect copies can be made, have insisted that movies on DVDdisc(s) contain copy protection mechanisms. IBM's tamper-resistantsoftware made it difficult to circumvent these copy protectionmechanisms. This is a very typical application for tamper-resistantsoftware; the software is used to enforce rules on the usage of someprotected type of Content 113.

IBM's tamper-resistant software puts several types of obstacles in thepath of the attacker. First, it contains techniques to defeat, or atleast reduce the effectiveness of, the standard software tools that thehacker uses: debuggers and disassemblers. Second it containsself-integrity checking, so that single modifications, or even smallhandfuls of modifications, will be detected and cause incorrectoperation. Finally, it contains obfuscations to mislead hackersregarding its true operation. The latter technique is largely ad hoc,but the first two build upon well-known tools in cryptography:encryption and digital signatures.

C. Secure Container Processor 192

When the End-User(s) submits the final purchase authorization to theElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 for the merchandise he hascollected in his shopping cart, his Web Browser remains active waitingfor a response from the Web Server. The Web Server at the ElectronicDigital Content Store(s) 103 processes the purchase and performs thefinancial settlement and then returns a Transaction SC(s) 640 to theEnd-User Device(s) 109. The SC(s) Processor 192 (Helper Application 198)is launched by the Web Browser to process the SC(s) mime type associatedwith the Transaction SC(s) 640. FIG. 14 is an example of user interfacescreens of the Player Application 195 downloading content to a locallibrary as described in FIG. 11 according to the present invention.

The SC(s) Processor 192 opens the Transaction SC(s) 640 and extract theResponse HTML page and Offer SC(s) 641 contained within. The ResponseHTML page is displayed in the Browser window acknowledging theEnd-User(s)' purchase. The Offer SC(s) 641 are then opened and theContent 113 (e.g. song or album) names along with the projected downloadtimes are extracted from them, step 1401. A new window is then displayedwith this information and the End-User(s) is presented with options toschedule the download(s) of the Content 113 (e.g. for music, songs orentire albums), step 1402. The End-User(s) can select immediate downloador can schedule the download to occur at a later time. If a later timeis selected, the download schedule information is saved in a log and thedownload is initiated at the scheduled time if the End-User Device(s)109 is powered on at that time. If the computer is not active at thescheduled download time or the communication link is not active, theEnd-User(s) is prompted to reschedule the download when the computer isnext powered up.

When the scheduled download time occurs or if immediate download wasrequested, the SC(s) Processor 192 creates Order SC(s) 650 frominformation in the Transaction SC(s) 640, Offer SC(s) 641, and thePublic Key 661 of the End-User(s) generated at install time. This OrderSC(s) 650 is sent via HITP request through the Browser to theClearinghouse(s) 105. When the Clearinghouse(s) 105 returns the LicenseSC(s) 660, the Helper Application 198 is re-invoked to process theLicense SC(s) 660. The License SC(s) 660 is then opened and the URL ofthe Content Hosting Site(s) 111 is extracted from the referenced OrderSC(s) 650. The License SC(s) 660 is then sent to the specified ContentHosting Site 111, via http request through the Browser, requestingdownload of the Content SC(s) 630. When the Content SC(s) 630 comes backto the Browser, the Helper Application 198 is re-invoked again. TheSC(s) Processor 192 displays the name of the Content 113 beingdownloaded along with a download progress indicator and an estimatedtime to completion.

As the Content 113 is being received by the SC(s) Processor 192, itloads the Content 113 data into memory buffers for decryption. The sizeof the buffers depends on the requirements of the encryption algorithmand watermarking technology 193 and is the minimum size possible toreduce the amount of unencrypted Content 113 exposed to hacker code. Asa buffer is filled, it is decrypted using the Key 623 (corresponding tothe Public Key 661) of the End-User(s) extracted from the License SC(s)660, which itself is first decrypted using the Private Key. Thedecrypted buffer is then passed to the watermarking function.

The watermarking 193 extracts the watermarking instructions from theLicense SC(s) 660 and decrypt the instructions using the Private Key ofthe End-User(s). The watermarking data is then be extracted from theLicense SC(s) 660 which includes transaction information such as thepurchaser's name as registered with the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 from which this Content 113 was purchased or derived fromthe credit card registration information if the Electronic DigitalContent Store(s) 103 does not provide a registration function. Alsoincluded in the watermark is the purchase date and the Transaction ID535 assigned by the Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 to referencethe specific records logged for this transaction. The Store UsageConditions 519 are also included to be used by the Copy Control of thePlayer Application 195. The watermarking instructions determines whichspecific content buffers the watermark is written to.

The Watermarking 193 is protected with Tamper Resistant Code technologyso as not to divulge the watermarking instructions thus preventing ahacker from discovering the location and technique of the watermark.This prevents removal or modification of the watermark by a hacker.

After inscribing any required watermark to this content buffer, thebuffer is passed to the scrambling function for Re-Encryption 194. Aprocessor efficient secure encryption algorithm such as IBM's SEALencryption technology is used to re-encrypt the Content 113 using arandom Symmetric Key. Once the download and Decryption and Re-Encryption194 process is complete, the encryption Key 623 used by the ContentProvider(s) 101 to originally encrypt the Content 113 is now destroyedand the new SEAL key is itself encrypted using the Secret User Keycreated and hidden at installation time. This new encrypted Seal Key isnow stored in the License Database 107.

The Decryption and Re-Encryption 194 process is another area of the codethat is protected with Tamper Resistant Code technology so as not todivulge the original Content 113 encryption key, the new SEAL key, theSecret User Key, and where the Secret User Key segments are stored andhow the key is segmented.

The process of Decryption and Re-Encryption 194 serves two purposes.Storing the Content 113 encrypted with an algorithm like SEAL enablesfaster than real-time decryption and requires much less processorutilization to perform the decryption than does a more industry standardtype algorithm like DES. This enables the Player Application 195 toperform a real-time concurrent decryption-decode-playback of the Content113 without the need to first decrypt the entire file for the Content113 prior to decode and playback. The efficiency of the SEAL algorithmand a highly efficient decode algorithm such as IBM's implementation ofthe AC3 algorithm, allows not only concurrent operation (streamingplayback from the encrypted file) but also allows this process to occuron a much lower powered system processor. Thus this application can besupported on a End-User Device(s) 109 as low end as a 60 MHz Pentiumsystem and perhaps lower. Separating the encryption format in which theContent 113 is finally stored from the original encryption format,allows for greater flexibility in the selection of the original contentencryption algorithm. Thus use of widely accepted and proven industrystandard algorithms can be used thus further enhancing Digital ContentIndustry acceptance of the Secure Digital Content ElectronicDistribution System 100.

The second purpose of this Decryption and Re-Encryption 194 process isto remove the requirement that the original master encryption Key 623,used by the Content Provider(s) 101 to encrypt this Content 113, bestored on every End-User Device(s) 109 which has licensed this Content113. The encrypted master Key 623, as part of the License SC(s) 660, isonly cached on the hard disk of the End-User Device(s) 109 for a veryshort time and is in the clear only in memory and for a very short time.During this execution phase, the Key 623 is protected via TamperResistant Code technology. Not having to retain this Key 623 in any formon the End-User Device(s) 109 once this Decryption and Re-Encryption 194phase has completed, greatly lessens the possibility of piracy fromhackers.

Once the song has been re-encrypted, it is stored in the Digital ContentLibrary 196. All metadata required for use by the Player Application195, is extracted from the associated Offer SC(s) 641 and also stored inthe Digital Content Library 196, step 1403. Any parts of the metadatawhich are encrypted, such as the song lyrics, are decrypted andre-encrypted in the same manner as described above for the othercontent. The same SEAL key used to encrypt the Content 113 is used forany associated metadata needing to be encrypted.

D. The Player Application 195

1. Overview

The Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution Player Application195 (referred to here as the Player Application 195) is analogous toboth a CD, DVD or other Digital Content player and to a CD, DVD, orother digital content storage management system. At its simplest, itperforms Content 113, such as playing songs or videos. At another level,it provides the End-User(s) a tool for managing his/her Digital ContentLibrary 196. And just as importantly, it provides for editing andplaying of collections of content, such as songs, (referred to here asPlay-lists).

The Player Application 195 is, assembled from a collection of componentsthat may be individually selected-and customized to the requirements ofthe Content Provider(s) 101 and Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103.A generic version of the player is described, but customization ispossible.

Referring now to FIG. 15 there is shown a block diagram of the majorcomponents and processes of the Player Application 195 running onEnd-User Device(s) 109 of FIG. 10.

There are several component-sets that make up the subsystems of thePlayer Object Manager 1501:

1. End-User Interface Components 1509

2. Copy/Play Management Components 1504

3. Decryption 1505, Decompression 1506 and Playback Components 1507

4. Data Management 1502 and Library Access Components 1503

5. Inter-application Communication Components 1508

6. Other miscellaneous (Installation, etc) Components

Components from within each of these sets may be selected, based on therequirements of:

the platform (Windows, Unix, or equivalent)

communications protocols (network, cable, etc)

Content Provider(s) 101 or Electronic Digital Content Store(s) 103

Hardware (CD, DVD, etc)

Clearinghouse(s) 105 technology and more.

The sections below detail the various component sets. The final sectiondetails how these components are put together in the generic player, anddiscusses how the components can be customized.

2. End-User Interface Components 1509

Components from this set combine to provide the on-screen manifestationof the Player Application 195. Note that the design establishes nodefinitive layout of these components. One such layout is provided inthe generic player. Based on requirements from Content Provider(s) 101and/or Electronic Digital Content Store(s) and other requirements,alternate layouts are possible.

This set is grouped into subgroups, starting with the components used topresent End-User Display 1510 and handle controls called End-UserControls 1511 used for such low-level functions as audio playback , andpresentation of metadata. Next, the End-User Display Component 1510 isfurther divided by special function groupings (Play-list, DigitalContent Library), and then object-container components used for groupingand placing of those lower-level components.

Within the component listings below, any reference to creating CDs orcopying of Content 113 to a CD or other recordable medium only appliesto the case where the Player Application 195 has such functionalityenabled. Also note that the term CD in that context is a generic one,that can also represent various other external recording devices, suchas MiniDisc or DVD.

FIG. 16 is an example user interface screens of the Player Application195 of FIG. 15 according to the present invention. Function for theEnd-User Controls 1511 include (corresponding screens of an End-UserInterface are shown 1601-1605):

Controls for performing the Content 113:

Play/Stop button

Play button

Stop button

Pause button

Skip forward button

Skip backward button

Volume control

Track position control/display

Audio channel volume level display and more.

Controls for the displaying metadata associated with the Content 113

Cover Picture button

Cover Picture object

Artist Picture button

Artist Picture object

Track List button

Track List Information object

Track List Selector object (click to play)

Track Name object

Track Information object

Track Lyrics button

Track Lyrics object

Track Artist Name object

Track Credits button

Track Credits object

CD Name object

CD Credits button

CD Credits object

Generic (Configurable) Metadata button

Generic Metadata object and more.

Function for the End-User Display 1510 include (corresponding screens ofan End-User Interface are shown 1601-1605):

Play-list of display container

Play-list Management button

Play-list Management window

Digital Content search button

Digital Content search Definition object

Digital Content search Submit button

Digital Content search Results object

Copy Selected Search Result Item To Play-list button

Play-list object (editable)

Play-list Save button

Play-list Play button

Play-list Pause button

Play-list Restart button

Create CD from Play-list button and more.

Display of Digital Content Library 196

Digital content library button

Digital content librarian window

Digital content categories button

Digital content categories object

By-artist button

By-genre button

By-label button

By-category button

Delete button

Add-to-Play-list button

Copy to CD button

Song List object

Song List display container and more Containers and Misc.

Player window container

Audio controls container

Metadata controls container

Metadata display container

Toolbar container object

Sample button

Download button

Purchase button

Record button

Player Name object

Label/Provider/Store Advertisement object

Label/Provider/Store URL button

Artist URL Button and more

3. Copy/Play Management Components 1504

These components handle set up of encryption keys, Watermark processing,Copy management, etc. Interfaces also exist for communication with theClearinghouse(s) 105, transmission of purchase requests, etc, forspecial services such as pay per listen or cases where each access tothe Content 113 is accounted for (if such functionality is adopted).Currently, though, the Clearinghouse(s) 105 functions has beenpreviously taken care of by the SC(s) Processor 192 Application when theDigital Content was acquired from the Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103.

4. Decryption 1505, Decompression 1506 and Playback Components 1506

These components use the keys acquired by the Copy/Play Managementcomponents to unlock the audio data acquired from the Data Managementand Library Access components, apply the appropriate decompression toprepare it for playback, and use system audio services to play it.

5. Data Management 1502 and Library Access Components 1503

These components are used to store and retrieve song data on variousstorage devices on the End-User(s)' system, as well as handle requestsfor information about the stored songs.

6. Inter-application Communication Components 1508

These components are used for coordination between the Secure DigitalContent Electronic Distribution Player and other applications (e.g.,Browser, helper-app and/or plug-in, etc) that may invoke the PlayerApplication 195, or that the Player Application 195 needs to use whencarrying out its functions. For example, when a URL control isactivated, it invokes the appropriate browser and instruct it to loadthe appropriate page.

7. Other Miscellaneous Components

Individual components that don't fall into the categories above (e.g.,Installation) are grouped here.

8. The Generic Player

In this section the combining of the components above into a version ofthe Player Application 195 is discussed. This is just one of manydifferent examples possible, since the Player Application 195 isdesigned for customization by being based on software objects.

The Player Object Manager 1501 is a software framework holding all theother components together. As discussed in the sections above, theblocks below the Player Object Manager 1501 in this diagram are requiredfor any player, but may be replaced by specialized versions depending onsuch things as form of encryption or scrambling being used, types ofaudio compression, access methods for the Content 113 library, and more.

Above the Player Object Manager 1501 are Variable Objects 1512, whichare mostly derived from the metadata associated with the Content 113being played or searched. These Variable Objects are made available tothe End-User Device(s) 109 by way of the End-User Display 1510 andreceived input from the End-User Controls 1511. All objects areconfigurable, and the layouts of all containers are customizable. Theseobjects may be implemented in C/C++, Java or any equivalent objectoriented language.

Using the Player Application 195

The following embodiment is for an example where the Player Application195 running on End-User Device(s) 109 is an audio player where Content113 is music. It should be understood to those skilled in the art thatother types of Content 113 can be supported by the Player Application195. A typical audio enthusiast has a library of CDS holding songs. Allof these are available within the Secure Digital Content ElectronicDistribution System 100. The set of songs that have been purchased fromElectronic Digital Content Store(s) 103 are stored within a DigitalContent Library 196 on his or her system. The groupings of songs thatare analogous to physical CDS are stored as Play-lists. In some cases aPlay-list exactly emulates a CD (e.g., all tracks of a commerciallyavailable CD has been purchased from an Electronic Digital ContentStore(s) 103 as an on-line version of the CD and is defined by aPlay-list equivalent to that of the CD). But most Play-lists is puttogether by End-User(s) to group songs they have stored in the DigitalContent Libraries on their systems. However for the purposes of theensuing discussions, an example of a custom made music CD is used whenthe term a Play-list is mentioned.

When the End-User(s) starts the Player Application 195 explicitly,rather than having it start up via invocation from the SC(s) Processor192 Application, it pre-loads to the last Play-list that was accessed.If no Play-lists exist in the Digital Content Library 196, the Play-listeditor is started automatically. (unless the user has turned off thisfeature via a preference setting). See The Play-list, below for furtherdetails.

The Player Application 195 may also be invoked with a specific song asan argument, in which case it immediately enters Song-play mode.Optionally, the song may be prepared for play but await action by theEnd-User(s) before proceeding. See Song Play, below for more on thissituation.

The Play-list (corresponding screen of an End-User Interface 1603):

When the End-User(s) has invoked the Play-list function, these are theavailable functions:

Open Play-list

Digital Content Librarian is invoked to display a list of storedPlay-lists for selection. Also see Digital Content Librarian below formore info.

Edit Play-list

Invokes the Play-list Editor-(see below); primed with the currentPlay-list if one has been loaded already. Otherwise the editor createsan empty Play-list to start with.

Run Play-list

Songs are played one at a time starting with the selected song (or thebeginning of the play-list, if no song is selected). Options set in thePlay-list Editor affect the sequencing of the playback. However there iscontrols available here to override those options for this play of thePlay-list.

Playsong

Only the selected song from the Play-list is played. See Song Play belowfor more info.

Play-list Info

Display information about the Play-list.

Song Info

Display information about the selected song within the Play-list.

Visit web site

Load web site associated with this Play-list into browser.

Librarian

Open the Digital Content Librarian window. Also see Digital ContentLibrarian below for more info.

The Play-list Editor (corresponding screen of an End-User Interface1603):

When invoking the Play-list editor, these are the End-User(s)' options:

View/Load/Delete Play-lists

Digital Content Librarian is invoked to display a list of storedPlay-lists for selection of one to load or delete. Also see DigitalContent Librarian below for more info.

Save Play-list

Current version of Play-list is saved in the Digital Content Library196.

Delete Song

Currently selected song is deleted from Play-list.

Add Song

Digital Content Librarian is invoked in song-search mode, for selectionof song to add to the Play-list. Also see Digital Content Librarianbelow for more info.

Set Song Information

Display and allow changes to information about the selected song withinthe play-list.

This information is stored within the Play-list, and does not alterinformation about the song stored within the Digital Content Library196. These things can be changed:

Displayed Song Title

End-User(s) notes about the song

Lead-in delay on playing the song

Follow-on delay after playing the song

Start-point within song when playing

End-point within song when playing

Weighting for random mode

Volume adjustment for this song and more.

Set Play-list attributes: Display and allow changes to the attributes ofthis Play-list. These attributes may be set:

Play-list title

Play-list mode (random, sequential, etc)

Repeat mode (play once, restart when done, etc)

End-User(s) notes about this Play-list

Librarian (corresponding screen of an End-User Interface 1601):

Open the Digital Content Librarian window. Also see Digital ContentLibrarian below for more info.

Song Play

When a song has been prepared for play, either by invoking the PlayerApplication 195 with the song as an argument or by selecting a song forplay from a Play-list or within the Digital Content Librarian, these arethe End-User(s)' options: (corresponding screen of an End-User Interface1601):

Play

Pause

Stop

Skip Backward

Skip Forward

Adjust Volume

Adjust Track Position

View Lyrics

View Credits

View CD Cover

View Artist Picture

View Track Information

View other metadata

Visit web site

Play-list

Librarian and more.

Digital Content Librarian

The Digital Content Librarian can be invoked implicitly when selectingsongs or Play-lists (see above) or may be opened in its own window formanagement of the Song Library on the End-User(s)' system. In that case,these are the End-User(s)' options:

Working with songs:

Sort All by Artist, Category, Label, other

Select Songs by Artist, Category, Label, other

Add-selected songs to Current Play-list

Copy Song to CD (if enabled)

Delete Song

Add Song to Category and more.

Work with Play-lists:

Sort by Name

Sort by Category

Search by Keyword

Search by Included Song Title

Load Selected Play-list

Rename Play-list

Delete Play-list

Create CD from Selected Play-list (if enabled) and more.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, itwill be understood by those having skill in the art that changes can bemade to this specific embodiment without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to berestricted, therefore, to the specific embodiment, and it is intendedthat the appended claims cover any and all such applications,modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of managing content data, associatedmetadata, and associated usage data, on an electronic content managementsystem, said method comprising the steps of: generating the content dataand the associated metadata on a content provider; transferring thecontent data from the content provider to a content host; transferringthe metadata and usage condition data for the associated content datafrom a content host to an electronic store; altering, on the electronicstore, at least one of the metadata and the usage condition data inorder to form promotional data; and transferring the promotional datafrom the electronic store to a customer's system.
 2. The method asdefined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: encrypting thecontent data with a first encrypting key before transferring the contentdata to the content host; encrypting the first encrypting key with asecond encrypting key; and transferring the encrypted first encryptingkey, along with the metadata and usage condition data, to the electronicstore.
 3. The method as defined in claim 2, further comprising the stepof transferring the encrypted first encrypting key, along with thepromotional data, from the electronic store to the customer's system. 4.The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step oftransferring promotional material from the electronic store to thecustomer's system, the promotional material including at least some ofthe metadata.
 5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein in the stepof altering, the electronic store is able to change or remove portionsof the received metadata and is able to add additional metadata.
 6. Themethod as defined in claim 5, wherein the metadata includes templatedata that indicates the portions of the metadata that can be changed orremoved by the electronic store.
 7. The method as defined in claim 5,wherein the metadata transferred to the electronic store includeswholesale price information, and in the step of altering, the electronicstore removes the wholesale price information and adds retail priceinformation.
 8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the contentdata includes music data, and the usage condition data includes timerestrictions on the playing of the music data.
 9. The method as definedin claim 1, wherein the content data includes music data, and the usagecondition data includes a maximum number of copies of the music datathat can be made and a maximum number of times the music data can beplayed.
 10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the content dataincludes music data, and the metadata includes the source of the musicdata and a link to the content host.
 11. The method as defined in claim10, wherein the metadata further includes a description of the contentof the music data, artwork associated with the music data, and aselected portion of the music data to be used for sales promotion. 12.The method as defined in claim 1, wherein before the metadata and theusage condition data are transferred to the electronic store, themetadata and the usage condition data are digitally signed by a contentprovider, and before transferring the promotional data to the customer'ssystem, the electronic store digitally signs the promotional data. 13.The method as defined in claim 12, wherein before transferring thecontent data to the content host, the content data is digitally signedby the content provider.
 14. An electronic content management system formanaging content data, associated metadata, and associated usage data,said system comprising: a content provider including: a content datagenerator that generates the content data and the associated metadata;and a first transmitter for transmitting the content data, theassociated metadata, and the associated usage condition data; a contenthost including a first receiver for receiving the content data from thecontent provider; and an electronic store including: a second receiverfor receiving the metadata and the usage condition data from the contentprovider; an offer data generator that alters at least one of themetadata and the usage condition data in order to form promotional data;and a second transmitter for transmitting the promotional data to acustomer's system.
 15. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein thecontent data generator encrypts the content data with a first encryptingkey, and encrypts the first encrypting key with a second encrypting key,and the first transmitter transmits the encrypted first encrypting key,along with the metadata and usage condition data, to the electronicstore.
 16. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein the secondtransmitter transmits the encrypted first encrypting key, along with thepromotional data, to the customer's system.
 17. The system as defined inclaim 14, wherein the second transmitter transmits promotional materialto the customer's system, the promotional material including at leastsome of the metadata.
 18. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein theoffer data generator is able to change or remove portions of thereceived metadata and is able to add additional metadata.
 19. The systemas defined in claim 18, wherein the first transmitter also transmitstemplate data to the electronic store, the template data indicating theportions of the metadata that can be changed or removed by the offerdata generator.
 20. The system as defined in claim 18, wherein themetadata transmitted to the electronic store includes wholesale priceinformation, and the offer data generator removes the wholesale priceinformation from the metadata and adds retail price information.
 21. Thesystem as defined in claim 4, wherein the content data includes musicdata, and the usage condition data includes time restrictions on theplaying of the music data.
 22. The system as defined in claim 14,wherein the content data includes music data, and the usage conditiondata includes a maximum number of copies of the music data that can bemade and a maximum number of times the music data can be played.
 23. Thesystem as defined in claim 14, wherein the content data includes musicdata, and the metadata transmitted to the electronic store includesinformation identifying the content provider and a link to the contenthost.
 24. The system as defined in claim 23, wherein the metadatatransmitted to the electronic store further includes a description ofthe content of the music data, artwork associated with the music data,and a selected portion of the music data to be used for sales promotion.25. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the first transmitterdigitally signs the metadata and the usage condition data, and thesecond transmitter digitally signs the promotional data.
 26. The systemas defined in claim 25, wherein the first transmitter digitally signsthe content data.